Introduction:

the human immunodeficiency virus continues to be one of the main public health problems worldwide and is a major cause of death. The generalization of HIV testing in the population is a public health strategy.

Objective:

to determine the frequency of HIV infection in patients who presented to the emergency department from March 2021 to October 2023. Methodology: this was an observational, descriptive study; adult patients admitted to the emergency department from March 2021 to October 2023 were included. For the calculation of the sample we used an expected proportion of 0.1 (1 %) and an amplitude of 0.10 (precision), confidence level of 95 %, which yielded a size of 974 patients. The data were processed in the EPI Info statistical package (Atlanta-CDC).

Results:

976 patients were included in the study, the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity by ELISA test was 12.8 % (n = 126), the average age of the positive patients was 38.4 ± 13 years old, regarding risk factors, 18.25 % (n = 23) reported illicit drug use; 16.66 % (n = 21) tattoos; 11.90 % (n = 15) history of blood product transfusions; 7.14 % (n = 9) piercings.

Conclusion

the frequency of HIV seropositivity by ELISA test was 12.8% in adult patients who come to the emergency room for any reason.

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