Practical Techniques to Enhance the Safety of Health Care Workers in Office-Based Surgery

Background: Office-based surgery is commonly practiced in different specialties for a variety of procedures. During these procedures, the health care worker (HCW) is exposed to a large number of pathogens that can be bloodborne, including the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hum...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 2011-01, Vol.15 (1), p.48-54
Main Authors: AlGhamdi, Khalid M., AlKhodair, Rayan A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allied Health Personnel
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures
Biological and medical sciences
Dermatology
Humans
Medical personnel
Medical sciences
Needlestick Injuries - prevention & control
Occupational Exposure - prevention & control
Occupational safety
Protective Devices
Safety management
Studies
Surgery
Suture Techniques
Syringes
Universal Precautions
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Summary:Background: Office-based surgery is commonly practiced in different specialties for a variety of procedures. During these procedures, the health care worker (HCW) is exposed to a large number of pathogens that can be bloodborne, including the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These pathogens can be transmitted through needlesticks or sharp injuries to intact skin or by backsplash of contaminated body fluids onto mucous membranes or injured skin. Objectives and Conclusions: This article reviews the published techniques designed to protect the HCW from such hazards. These techniques are classified into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. Preoperative measures include general protective measures, organization of the surgical field, and consideration of alternative treatments in high-risk patients. Intraoperative techniques deal with safe handling and transferring of sharp instruments, working without using sharps, and protection from backspray injuries. Postoperative measures address proper disposal of used sharps.
ISSN:1203-4754
1615-7109
DOI:10.2310/7750.2010.09084