Application of guidelines for occupational HIV infection control during delivery in Italy

We surveyed the attitudes of Italian obstetricians toward the application of HIV infection control guidelines during labour and delivery proposed by the Italian National Committee for HIV Infection.

We identified 66 obstetric centres affiliated to the AOGOI (Association of Italian Gynecologists and Obstetricians). A postal questionnaire was sent to 752 physicians in charge in the centres.

A total of 419 clinicians (55.7%) completed and returned the form to the coordinating centre. Obstetricians were directly asked about the need for routine adoption of the Italian guidelines for delivery of women with positive or unknown HIV status (indicating the routine use during delivery of protective glasses, impermeable garments, mask and sterile latex gloves, the washing of hands with detergent solution after using gloves and collection of needles and sharp instruments in suitable containers). A total of 319 (76.1%) clinicians agreed that all these procedures should be adopted. In clinical practice, however, obstetricians declared that the use of latex gloves and collecting needles in suitable containers were always adopted, 'washing hands after using gloves' less frequently, and other procedures such as protective impermeable garments, glasses and mask were infrequently applied.