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Surgeons' concern and practices of protection against bloodborne pathogens
J M Patterson1, C B Novak, S E Mackinnon
1Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate surgeons' concern regarding risk awareness and behavioral methods of protection against bloodborne pathogen transmission during surgery.
Methods:
A 29-item questionnaire was sent to 914 surgeons from two universities and two surgical societies.
Results:
The questionnaire was returned by 768 active surgeons. Slight or moderate concern about contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was reported by most surgeons; 8% reported extreme concern and 4% reported no concern. In total, 605 surgeons reported having been vaccinated against hepatitis B; surgeons in practice <7 years were most likely to be vaccinated. Most surgeons did not routinely use double gloves: 92 of 768 surgeons reported that they always use double gloves when performing surgery, and 83 reported that they usually use double gloves. There was a statistically significantly higher proportion of surgeons who always or usually use double gloves who also had hepatitis B vaccinations. Most surgeons incorrectly estimated the seroconversion rates with exposure to a patient with HIV (66% incorrect), hepatitis B (88% incorrect), or hepatitis C (84% incorrect). Most surgeons never or rarely report needle-stick injuries, and only 17% always report needle-stick injuries.
Conclusions:
Most surgeons underestimate the risk of bloodborne pathogens and do not routinely use double gloves.
Insights
Most surgeons show moderate concern for bloodborne pathogens but underestimate transmission risks and rarely use double gloves. Enhanced awareness and consistent protective behaviors are crucial for surgical safety.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Occupational Health
- Surgical Safety
Background:
- Bloodborne pathogen transmission poses a significant risk during surgical procedures.
- Understanding surgeons' risk perception and protective practices is vital for preventing occupational exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess surgeons' awareness of risks associated with bloodborne pathogens.
- To evaluate the adoption of protective measures against pathogen transmission during surgery.
Main Methods:
- A 29-item questionnaire was distributed to 914 surgeons from academic institutions and professional societies.
- Data analysis focused on reported concerns, vaccination status, glove use, and needle-stick injury reporting.
Main Results:
- Most surgeons expressed slight to moderate concern about contracting HIV, with a minority reporting extreme concern.
- While 605 surgeons were vaccinated against hepatitis B, routine use of double gloves was low (approx. 22%).
- A significant number of surgeons inaccurately estimated seroconversion rates for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, and most rarely reported needle-stick injuries.
Conclusions:
- Surgeons frequently underestimate the risks of bloodborne pathogen transmission.
- Inconsistent use of protective measures, such as double gloving, highlights a gap in current surgical safety practices.
- Improved education on pathogen risks and consistent adherence to safety protocols are recommended.