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Human immunodeficiency virus

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus which causes AIDS.

HIV is of relevance in knee surgery for three reasons:

• Infected blood products may be innocently given during surgery. The risk of transmitting HIV with a homologous (from an unrelated person) blood transfusion is estimated to be 1 in 150,000 units of blood. ‘Autologous’ blood (from the patient - taken before surgery, stored, and used during surgery) is risk free.
• Transplant tissues (eg meniscal allograft, cruciate allograft, bone allograft) have a risk of transferring the virus from an infected donor
• Staff are at risk if the patient is HIV positive