DATE ISSUED
07/01/91

DATE REVISED
08/01/98

CHAPTER I:

THE UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The University Committee on Communicable Diseases is responsible for promulgating policies, ensuring the provision of educational programs and adjudicating questions relevant to the prevention of and response to communicable diseases within the University community of employees and students. Certain units of the University such as those on the Health Sciences Center Campus or the Madrid Campus may require additional or different policies in response to regulatory agencies or governmental status; in such instances, the individual unit shall have jurisdiction in the promulgation and enforcement of those policies. The Committee on Communicable Diseases is appointed by the President of the University.

CHAPTER II:

ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

PREFACE

HIV disease is causing a world-wide health crisis of tragic proportions. As one of the countries with a significant incidence of HIV, the United States continues to evidence an alarming increase in HIV infection and in the illnesses and death associated with this disease. Unfortunately, the health crisis caused by HIV has been compounded by the ignorance and discrimination that has characterized the response by some segments of our society to the people suffering from this disease. As a result, physical and psychological suffering are often accompanied by prejudice, recrimination, rejection, isolation, injustice and condemnation.

The tragedy of HIV has touched and will continue to touch the Saint Louis University community. As a Catholic University in the Jesuit tradition, Saint Louis University believes that it can express its personal care of students and employees by providing operational procedures which manifest justice and compassion in matters relating to HIV disease. The University recognizes and affirms its responsibility to:

Respond to its students and employees with HIV in a manner consistent with the best medical and scientific information available.

Provide educational programs about the medical aspects of the disease and legitimate ways of preventing it in a manner consistent with its Catholic Jesuit identity and in ways that are appropriate for the diverse populations of our university community.

Stand in solidarity with and reach out with compassion and understanding to those with HIV disease and their loved ones, especially if they are members of our university community or people in the care of our professional schools and clinics.

Respect the rights of persons with HIV that flow from our human dignity.

Discrimination against persons with HIV is unjust and immoral, and it will not be tolerated at Saint Louis University.

In the words of the American Bishops in their document, Called to Compassion and Responsibility: A Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis (November 30, 1989):

Our response to persons with AIDS must be such that we discover Christ in them and they in turn are able to encounter Christ in us. Although this response undoubtedly arises in the context of religious faith, even those without faith can and must look beyond suffering to see the human dignity and goodness of those who suffer.

SECTION I. INTRODUCTION

1.0 Definitions:

Human immunodeficiency virus is a transmissible viral agent which primarily infects the human species and usually results in a gradual progression of manifestations of impaired ability to resist infection. After initial acquisition of the agent, there is a spectrum of manifestations from being infected without recognizable disease (sero-positive) to having manifestations of HIV infection without a serious complicating unusual infection or cancer (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related complex-ARC) to having manifestations of more severe immune deficiency characterized by unusual infections or cancers (AIDS).

HIV – human immunodeficiency virus – the name given to the viral infectious agent which is responsible for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The term immunodeficiency refers to the manifestations of the viral infection. Other terms are AIDS virus, lymphadenopathy virus (LAV), and human T-cell lymphtrophic virus III (HTLV-III).

Seropositivity – the laboratory condition in which a person who is infected with HIV has a blood test which demonstrates acquisition of an infection with HIV. People infected with HIV can be symptom free or have manifestations due to HIV, including fever, swollen glands, and weight loss.

AIDS – (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) – the presence of a complicating unusual infection or cancer in a person infected with HIV and a marker of significant immune suppression (the body’s inability to fight off infection).

2.0 Mode of Transmission and Prevention:

HIV has been demonstrated to be transmitted by the exchange of blood and other body fluids from infected individuals to uninfected individuals. The major identified routes of transmission include sexual contact (both homosexual and heterosexual), sharing intravenous drug equipment, transfusion of infected blood or blood products, and mother to child (either prior to or at birth). In addition, health care workers have acquired infection due to work related accidents. There are presently no data to support transmission of HIV by casual contact.

3.0 Education:

As noted in the Preface, the University affirms its responsibility to provide education about AIDS to members of the University Community. Such education may be included in the orientation program routinely offered for new students and new employees, and special education programs may be scheduled as needed to provide the latest information to all students and employees.

Orientation programs for new undergraduate students, including the AIDS education component, are the responsibility of the Office of Student Life. Additional programs may be offered for residence hall students through the office of the Director of Housing, and for International Students by the Director of International Student Services.

The Dean/Director of each undergraduate, graduate and professional school or Center within the University shall be responsible for ensuring that his/her students and faculty have access to an orientation program as well as to any special AIDS education programs that may be relevant.

The University’s Department of Human Resources is responsible for Employee Orientation Programs, including the AIDS education component, and shall ensure that all University employees have access to periodic AIDS update sessions.

SECTION II. GENERAL POLICIES

1.0 Applicability and Basis

1.1 This policy applies to all University staff, faculty and students. Vendors/contractors operating University functions and using University facilities shall be in compli