title: Poor compliance with standard precautions against infections during minor gynaecological procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splash injuries occurring during minor surgical procedures are associated with a significant infective risk to the operator. It is a common misconception that minor operations carry low risks.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of the practice of Standard Precautions by medical staff in the obstetric and gynaecology (O & G) units of two hospitals in New Zealand, and to assess self-observed splash injury rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of all doctors working in the O & G units of two public hospitals servicing a population of 435 000. A self-administered questionnaire was provided to 43 doctors with questions related to the use of Standard Precautions, perceived likelihood of infection from a splash and splash injuries sustained during procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 76.6% (n = 33/43). Of the respondents, only 30.3% (n = 10) used Standard Precautions during minor procedures. Sixty-four per cent (n = 21) routinely used goggles/visor for eye protection. Forty-five per cent (n = 15) thought they were likely to get an infection from a splash, and 55% (n = 18) of clinicians had experienced a splash injury. Of the minor procedures during which splash injuries had occurred, repair of episiotomy 45.8% (n = 11) was the commonest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey shows poor compliance with guidelines for Standard Precautions to protect from infection despite self-reported rates of splash injury being high at 55%. Effective interventions are needed to increase compliance and prevent infection.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington South, New Zealand. dean.maharaj@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Dushyant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garrett
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires