Panlilio A, Perlino C, Parrish C, Foy D, Lowry P, Bell D; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 148 (abstract no. Th.A.P.47).
Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
OBJECTIVE: To describe the nature and frequency of occupational exposure to blood among operating room (OR) personnel during surgical procedures in a large public hospital. METHODS: Trained observers sampled operations and recorded the type and duration of procedure, emergency nature, estimated blood loss by the patient, occupations of personnel, infection control precautions used, and number and type of exposures. RESULTS: One or more persons had skin, mucous membrane, or parenteral exposures to blood during 49 (33%) of 151 operations, including 9/19 (47%) in trauma, 12/32 (38%) in orthopedic, 12/39 (31%) in gynecology, 8/35 (23%) in general surgery, 3/19 (16%) in plastic surgery, and 5/7 (71%) in burn procedures. Of 1350 personnel observed, 84 (6.2%) experienced 116 blood exposures, including 49 contacts with exposed skin (42%), 40 episodes of clothing soakage (35%), 13 exposures due to possibly defective gloves (11%), 10 needlesticks or cuts with sharp objects (9%), and 4 eyesplashes (3%). Risk factors for exposure (relative risk; 95% confidence interval) included being a surgeon (3.8; 2.5-5.8), participating in an emergency procedure (3.4; 2.2-5.1), patient blood loss greater than 250 ml (3.6; 2.5-5.4), and duration of time in OR greater than 1 hour (5.3; 2.9-9.8). CONCLUSION: The risk of blood exposure for operating room personnel is substantial. Studies are needed to quantitate this risk, identify risk factors for exposures, determine the risk of HIV infection due to these exposures, and to design and evaluate preventive measures.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Gloves, Protective
- Gloves, Surgical
- HIV Infections
- Humans
- Needlestick Injuries
- Occupational Exposure
- Operating Rooms
- Risk Factors
- Skin
- blood
- injuries
- surgery
Other ID:
UI: 102176453
From Meeting Abstracts