UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS - ATTITUDES OF AUSTRALIAN AND NEW-ZEALAND ANESTHETISTS

Objective: To survey the attitudes oi a group of Australasian anaesthe tists to the risks of bloodborne infections, and their understanding o f Universal Precautions. Design: A questionnaire survey. Setting: A co nference on health risks to anaesthetists in August 1995. Participants : 162 Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists. Results: Two-thirds of anaesthetists favoured preoperative HIV and hepatitis B and C testing , they rarely took ''risK'' histories from patients preoperatively. On ly 37% always wore gloves while administering anaesthetics, and 67% re ported they resheathed needles. Thirty-nine per cent had had needlesti ck injuries in the preceding 12 months, 43% did not always report them , The perceived needlestick accident rate was 1 in 1300 anaesthetics. Most (90%) were immunised against hepatitis B, but 20% of these had ne ver had their serological response checked. Twelve Fer cent of anaesth etists had had occupational exposure to HIV. A high proportion of the anaesthetists understood the principles of Universal Precautions, but only half of them believed these to be practical. Conclusions: The cur rent situation of Australasian anaesthetists not complying with Univer sal Precautions and not laking a risk history for bloodborne pathogens may carry the greatest risk of accidental infection.