Bloodborne pathogens and procedure safety in interventional radiology

Concern about possible transmission of bloodborne pathogens during medical procedures is growing among patients and healthcare workers alike. This fear has primarily been focused on nosocomial transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but other bloodborne infectious agents may also be transmitted during procedures. Chief among these are the hepatitis viruses, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), both of which are significantly more widespread than HIV. Although radiology is not traditionally thought of as a field with significant risk for exposure to or transmission of pathogens, the expanding role of interventional procedures in recent years belies that perception. The potential for exposure to blood or other possibly infectious material exists in virtually any invasive radiological procedure, from arteriography to image-guided biopsy. Fortunately, the risk of such exposure is low, and the risk of actual transmission of a bloodborne pathogen, whether from patient to healthcare worker or vice versa, is even lower. Nevertheless, it is important for all radiologists who perform invasive procedures to be aware of these risks and to observe pertinent safety and infection control recommendations. This article will review these topics.