Special consideration for bloodborne pathogens in the PACU.
Routine care of postoperative patients implies considerable exposure to blood products as well as to coughs and secretions. In the PACU, coughed secretions are often frankly contaminated with blood, and coughing is unpredictable after airway irritation. For these reasons, PACU nurses are exposed to many small inocula of potentially infected blood products. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding transmission of viral pathogens to health care workers, particularly hepatitis and human immunodeficiency viruses. Although the risk of acquiring these bloodborne pathogens from patients via coughs or splashes is small, the precise risks have not been quantified, and the stakes are high. Protection of PACU personnel by the use of universal precautions should be a routine part of patient care in the PACU.
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D000391:Air Microbiology; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011997:Recovery Room; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission