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Quantifying and reducing the risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure
B Stringer1, C Infante-Rivard, J Hanley
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
AORN Journal
|June 21, 2001
Summary
Surgical personnel face real risks of bloodborne pathogen infections like hepatitis B, C, and HIV. Controlling these risks involves equipment redesign, work practice changes, and enhanced personal protective equipment.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Occupational health and safety
Background:
- Surgical procedures carry an inherent risk of transmitting bloodborne pathogens (e.g., hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV) to perioperative personnel.
- Multiple factors influence this risk, including surgical volume, instrument types, blood exposure, pathogen prevalence, and vaccine/treatment availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the risks of bloodborne pathogen transmission in surgical settings.
- To detail the factors contributing to occupational risk for surgical staff.
- To present strategies for controlling these risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of factors influencing bloodborne pathogen transmission risk in surgery.
- Application of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) three-tiered control model.
Main Results:
- Risk is associated with surgical volume, instrument use, blood exposure, pathogen prevalence, and individual immunity/treatment access.
- OSHA's control methods provide a framework for risk mitigation.
Conclusions:
- Implementing a multi-faceted approach to risk control is essential for protecting surgical teams.
- Redesigning equipment, modifying work practices, and improving personal protective equipment are key strategies.