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Operative Precautions in HIV and Other Bloodborne Virus Diseases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Dennis Raahave*
Affiliation:
Department of Organ Surgery, the Øresund Hospital, Helsingør/Hø, Denmark
*
Surgical Infection Laboratory, Anemonevej 24, 2970, Hø, Denmark

Abstract

Mathematical means have suggested that the surgical team is at particular risk of acquiring HIV (or other bloodborne viruses) from a source patient. To reduce this risk, it is mandatory to avoid accidental injuries during operative procedures. The surgeon must handle tissues with instruments and must minimize finger use. Sharp instruments should be passed through a neutral zone to ensure that the surgeon and nurse do not touch the same instrument at the same time. Instruments should not be handled blindly, but instead should be accompanied by eye and verbal contact. We find these changes in surgical technique are necessary for present and future generations of surgeons.

Type
From the Fourth International Conference on the Prevention of Infection
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1996

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