Precautions against cross-infection during operations for maxillofacial trauma

One hundred oral and maxillofacial units in the UK were sent a postal quest ionnaire. Surgical staff of all grades were asked which infection-control m easures were taken during the treatment of maxillofacial fractures. Two hun dred and ninety-four questionnaires were completed, a response rate of 49%. If the patient was known to be infected by a blood-borne viral disease, si gnificantly more surgeons used standard barrier precautions such as eye pro tection, fluid-resistant gowns, drapes, ball-ended clips, adhesive tapes an d intermediate trays (P<0.0001). Bone-plating techniques were used in prefe rence to wire osteosynthesis (P<0.0001). Only 31 (10.5%) of surgeons routin ely used double gloves but 250 (85%) did so if the patient was an infection risk (P<0.0001). Universal precautions were not applied equally to all pat ients.