title: Blood exposure risk during procedural dermatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatologists are at risk of body-fluid contamination during procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the frequency of blood splash during procedural dermatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 500 consecutive excisions were performed. Postoperatively, blood droplets on face shields and surgical gowns were counted. A survey regarding universal precautions during procedures was also conducted with members of the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contamination from blood splashes during dermatologic procedures (Mohs micrographic surgery, excision, repair) occurred in 66.4%. Reconstruction type, anticoagulation use, wound location, and wound size correlated with a higher blood splash rate. Our survey showed that face shields and goggles are used inconsistently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 4 participating dermatologists do not represent all practicing dermatologists. It may be possible to generalize the survey results directed at physicians in the ACMS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physician body-fluid contamination risk with procedural dermatology is clinically significant. Dermatologists and their assistants should wear preventive barriers during procedures to minimize the risk of viral transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. rdholzmann@mac.com
authors.forename: Ruth D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Holzmann
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nadiminti
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharia
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neel
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Schanbacher
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D003880:Dermatology; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D016635:Universal Precautions; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants