Infected health care workers and patient safety: a double standard.
US policy regarding health care worker-to-patient transmission of bloodborne pathogens, issued in 1991, is flawed. We review current evidence of such nosocomial infections and conclude that a standardized national policy is needed, which includes improved surveillance and follow-up of blood exposures to patients and targeted practice restrictions for infected practitioners performing exposure-prone procedures.
Perry
Jane L
JL
Division of Infectious Diseases, International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, UVA Health System, PO Box 800764, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0764, USA. jlp6f@virginia.edu
Pearson
Richard D
RD
Jagger
Janine
J
D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006291:Health Policy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States