title: High prevalence of historical risk factors for blood-borne infections among inpatients at three community hospitals.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for blood-borne infections in a city with a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we confidentially surveyed 397 adult inpatients in three community hospitals. Twenty-one percent of inpatients reported one or more risk factors, 56% denied risks, 15% were unable to respond, and 8% declined to respond. Inpatients reporting a blood-borne infection risk factor, those declining response, and those denying risk were of comparable age, sex, race, and marital status. On medical floors, 28% of patients reported risk; on surgical floors, 23%; in intensive care units, 11%; and on obstetric floors, 5%. A recent blood transfusion (59%) and history of hepatitis (40%) were reported most often. Only 2.4% of persons with risks reported being positive for HIV antibody; however, 24% of reported risks were those frequently associated with HIV infection. By using history alone to determine isolation categories and by classifying patients unable to respond and those declining response as potentially infectious, more than 40% of our community's inpatients would require blood and body fluid precautions. This high historical risk supports use of a type of body substance isolation for all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Havlichek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greenman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plaisier
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction