Universal precautions: Attitudes of Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists

Abstract

Objective: To survey the attitudes of a group of Australasian anaesthetists to the risks of bloodborne infections, and their understanding of Universal Precautions. Design: A questionnaire survey. Setting: A conference on health risks to anaesthetists in August 1995. Participants: 162 Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists. Results: Two-thirds of anaesthetists favoured preoperative HIV and hepatitis B and C testing; they rarely took 'risk' histories from patients preoperatively. Only 37% always wore gloves while administering anaesthetics, and 67% reported they resheathed needles. Thirty-nine per cent had had needlestick injuries in the preceding 12 months; 43% did not always report them. ..