The risk of exposure of third-year surgical clerks to human immunodeficiency virus in the operating room.
The exposure of third-year medical students to blood and blood products in the operating room was assessed with a questionnaire distributed at the end of their clerkship in surgery. Sixty-six (68%) of ninety-seven students reported having been exposed to blood in the operating room during their 3-month rotation in surgery. During the year there was a decrease in the exposure rate that correlated with the students' knowledge of universal precautions (r = .96). Consistent with this observation was a significant decrease in the exposure rate from the first quarter of the year to the last quarter (88% vs 56% of the students). Of the 32 students stuck or cut in the operating room, 21 (66%) were injured by the surgeon. These data underscore the risk to medical students during their clerkships and the important role that universal precautions had in their protection.
Vergilio
J A
JA
Department of Surgery, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
Roberts
R B
RB
Davis
J M
JM
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions