PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

There is a significant risk of clothing soilure and skin contamination from patients' blood or other body fluids whilst working in an accide nt and emergency (A&E) department. It is therefore unhygienic to wear personal clothing and traditional uniforms do not provide adequate pro tection. Contamination occurs despite operating 'universal precautions ' and emergency presentations often preclude adopting such precautions despite the anticipation of possible contact with blood or other body fluids. The protection afforded to medical staff working in an A&E de partment by a suit made from a liquid repellent polyester fabric was a ssessed during the period 2 November 1992-1 January 1993. Ninety-one s plash incidents were recorded. A total of 85.7% of splashes (78) were with patients' blood, 13.1% with vomitus (12) and 1.1% with pus (1). T here were no instances of splashes to the suit that resulted in strike through to the inner surface or visible contamination of underlying s kin. However, some 15.4% of splashes (14) resulted in contamination of exposed skin ad 78.6% of these (11) occurred between glove and sleeve . Clothing of appropriated design and fabric can afford skin protectio n from blood and body fluid contamination. Such clothing alone does no t provide overall protection and other precautions currently recommend ed should be taken.