The Nation - News from June 30, 1987

All hospital workers should wear protective gear as a defense against AIDS when there is a chance of exposure to a patient’s blood or other body fluids, the American Hospital Assn. said. That simple precaution would do more to stop the spread of AIDS than testing of workers, patients or both, said Carol McCarthy, association president. The association is a nonprofit group that is an advocate for about 5,500 hospitals, or 80% of the nation’s total. There are nine known cases of hospital workers who contracted AIDS due to contact with patients, McCarthy said.