Blood exposure and puncture risks for OR personnel

1. Although all health-care workers are at risk for exposure to bloodborne organisms, OR personnel are the most intensively exposed to blood. Exposures to blood were noted in up to half of the procedures observed. 2. Risk-reduction strategies include using two pairs of puncture-resistant gloves and face protection for all procedures; wearing impermeable gowns during procedures with heavy blood loss; using surgical instruments and techniques that reduce the chance of percutaneous contacts; and adopting protocols for handling sharps, counting sponges, and cleaning the operating room. 3. Better and more comfortable personal protective equipment is needed. Manufacturers should develop risk-protective and cost-effective barriers that reduce risks for patients of surgical wound infections while reducing the risks for health-care workers of exposures to blood and bloodborne pathogens.