title: Precautions against cross-infection during operations for maxillofacial trauma.
abstract: One hundred oral and maxillofacial units in the UK were sent a postal questionnaire. Surgical staff of all grades were asked which infection-control measures were taken during the treatment of maxillofacial fractures. Two hundred and ninety-four questionnaires were completed, a response rate of 49%. If the patient was known to be infected by a blood-borne viral disease, significantly more surgeons used standard barrier precautions such as eye protection, fluid-resistant gowns, drapes, ball-ended clips, adhesive tapes and intermediate trays (P<0.0001). Bone-plating techniques were used in preference to wire osteosynthesis (P<0.0001). Only 31 (10.5%) of surgeons routinely used double gloves but 250 (85%) did so if the patient was an infection risk (P<0.0001). Universal precautions were not applied equally to all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pigadas
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Avery
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012307:Risk Factors; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000379:methods*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission