ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMA SURGEONS ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS BLOODBORNEPATHOGENS

A survey was conducted to determine orthopedic trauma surgeons' attitu des and practices towards occupational exposures to bloodborne pathoge ns. The survey was distributed to orthopedic trauma surgeons either by mail or through participation at the annual 1993 OTA meeting or the 1 994 update meetings, Of the 1,058 surveys distributed, 504 were succes sfully completed (48%). The majority of respondents were attendings (7 2%) who performed at least 100 orthopedic procedures annually. Of the respondents, 74% reported they were moderately to very concerned about acquiring HIV at work. Despite their concern, 42% reported not routin ely wearing gloves when changing wound dressings. Of the 340 responden ts who have access to maximum barrier protection, 83% reported not wea ring it to nail a femur fracture and 33% reported not wearing it when operating on an HIV+ patient. At an institutional level, almost one-th ird of those surveyed did not believe their facility promoted safe wor k practices. Facilities judged by respondents to promote safe practice s were significantly more likely to have resources available and infec tion control policies in place compared to facilities judged not to pr omote safe practices. Orthopedic trauma surgeons need to improve their compliance with infection control recommendations. Further efforts by individuals and their institutions are warranted.