AIDS: the contamination risk in urological surgery.
Increasing numbers of patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) will be encountered in surgical practice. The risk of exposure to the virus during urological surgery is unknown. In an attempt to quantify the risk and to identify procedures that require change, 427 consecutive urological operations were prospectively assessed for contamination of the surgeon's skin, face and mucous membranes by potentially infected body fluids. Contamination occurred in 136 procedures (32%), of which 37 of 123 (30%) were open operations and 99 of 304 (33%) were endoscopic. Contamination of the face and eyes accounted for 46% (46 of 99 operations) of the contamination occurring in endoscopic surgery. Attention must be paid to reducing exposure of the surgeons' skin to patients' body fluids. The surgeons' eyes should be protected by modification of urological techniques and equipment to avoid spillage.
McNicholas
T A
TA
St Peter's Hospital, London.
Jones
D J
DJ
Sibley
G N
GN
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D004724:Endoscopy; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005145:Face / Q000382:microbiology; D013502:General Surgery; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*