Viral transmission during surgery: What do we know?

Abstract

Surgeons are frequently exposed to blood and body fluids that have the potential to transmit disease. During surgery, intact gloves act as a protective barrier against bloodborne pathogens. In this study, we investigated the knowledge of the surgeons and residents at our hospital about the transmission risk of the three bloodborne viruses most commonly involved in the health care setting: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We also investigated their immunization against the HBV, gloving attidues and puncture rates during surgery. A survey form was filled reciprocally with physicians who accepted to answer. From surgical specialties, a number of 127 physicians consisting of 78 resident (%61) and 49 staff surgeon (%39) participated to our questionnaire. The rate of immunized, naturally immunized and those who were checked their anti-HbS titration at least once among the respondents were %79, %12 and %52 respectively. While the estimation ratio of the transmisson risk for HBV and HCV was both %25, only %10 of the respondents estimated the transmission risk for HIV correctly. The needle puncture rates in major risk vs minor risk specialties (p=0.002) and in residents vs staff surgeons (p=0.0001) were significantly higher. However, the rate of double gloving was only %4.7 in all series. The proportion of double glovers were significantly higher among staff surgeons (p=0.004).