Robert L, Short L, Chamberland M, McKibben P, Srivastava P, Culver D, Bell D; National Conference on Human Retroviruses and Related Infections.

Program Abstr Second Natl Conf Hum Retrovir Relat Infect Natl Conf Hum Retrovir Relat Infect 2nd 1995 Wash DC. 1995 Jan 29-Feb 2; 130.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

Background: BCs, especially PIs during GSP, may lead to transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Data on the efficacy of interventions to prevent such contacts are limited. We initiated a two-phase observational study in three New York City hospitals to assess the frequency of BCs in GSPs (phase I) and the efficacy of selected interventions (phase II). Methods: During March 1993-June 1994, trained observers recorded information about protective equipment, surgical techniques, BCs, and intervention use. Interventions included blunted suture needles (BSN), double-gloving, and educational programs to promote safer surgical techniques. Results: BSN use increased from 53/1053 (5%) procedures in phase I to 349/421 (83%) in phase II. Standard suture needle-related PIs per 100 procedures decreased concomitantly from 4.8 to 1.4 (p less than .001). No PIs occurred with BSN. In contrast, injury rates per 1000 needles used were 2.1 and 14.2 for standard and straight needles, respectively. Baseline rates of double-gloving among the institutions ranged from 27% to 91%. The rate of double-gloving among surgeons at the hospital with the lowest baseline rate increased to 48% of 500 surgeon- procedures in the last study quarter. This was associated with a decrease in blood-hand contact rates from 71 to 32 per 100 procedures between the first and last study quarters. For all hospitals during the study period, the rate of blood-hand contact was over 8 times higher for single-gloved vs double-gloved surgeons. Conclusions: Significant reductions in PI and blood-hand contact occurred following increases in the use of BSN and double-gloving.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Animals
• Blood-Borne Pathogens
• Female
• Gloves, Protective
• Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
• Hand
• Hand Injuries
• Mucous Membrane
• Needlestick Injuries
• New York City
• Suture Techniques
• blood
• injuries
• surgery

Other ID:

• 95920443

UI: 102213392

From Meeting Abstracts