title: HIV and measures to control infection in general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of HIV on procedures to control infection in general practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  General practices throughout Britain.
  
  
  METHODS
  5359 General practitioners, 3429 (63.9%) of whom returned the questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Response to questionnaire on knowledge about HIV and policies for controlling infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most doctors (2018) had started to wear gloves when taking blood. Almost half (1510) had not resheathed needles previously but a further 776 had adopted this policy because of HIV. Over half of the doctors did not know or were unsure about the risk of infection from needlestick injuries, and 1759 had no practice policy for controlling infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many doctors are uncertain about measures to control infection in general practice. More information and advice are needed to help doctors develop policies to protect patients and staff.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Unit, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Setters
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naji
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom