HIV Seroprevalence in Patients Undergoing Ophthalmic Surgery in the Niger/Delta Region of Nigeria

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the number of HIVpositive cases undergoing ophthalmic surgery at two centresin Nigeria and to assess if routine testing is clinically oreconomically effective.Methods: All patients listed for ophthalmic surgery in two eyeunits in southern Nigeria during a six-month period in 2005,who underwent a routine set of pre-operative blood tests –including HIV test – after giving full-informed consent, wereincluded. Laboratory investigation of HIV status was byELISA. Details of the patients’ age, sex, diagnosis andpreoperative HIV status were noted on a spreadsheet database.Results: At the university teaching hospital, HIV was detected inone out of 87 cases (1.15%). At the other provincial hospital3 HIV positive cases were detected out of 41 ophthalmicsurgery patients (7.31%).Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV in Nigeria is high, althoughit varies between type of hospital and region. Ophthalmicsurgeons should bear this in mind whilst operating. Routinetesting of HIV status might not be absolutely necessary as itdoes not influence changes in surgical technique orpreparation but rather reinforces the need for safe and effectivepreventive measures