BLOOD AND BODY-FLUID EXPOSURES AMONG SURGEONS - A SURVEY OF ATTITUDESAND PERCEPTIONS 5 YEARS FOLLOWING UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

A mail survey of surgeons at our medical center 5 years following adop tion of Universal Precautions revealed that 29% estimated having great er than or equal to 1 potentially serious blood or body fluid exposure s (BBEs) per month. Failure to report BBEs (usually needlesticks) to t he employee health department was common, and the majority of surgeons in practice for greater than or equal to 10 years never reported such exposures. The most commonly cited reason for not reporting BBEs was perceived low risk of acquiring bloodborne infections.