Protection in operating room against blood-borne pathogens

A national survey was conducted with 5,000 randomly chosen surgeons in orde r to assess the methods of protection used or warranted in the operating ro om against bloodborne pathogens. The rate of complete vaccination against h epatitis B was 79,2 %. The use of double gloves was constant for 72 % of or thopedist surgeons but only reached 28,2 % for the overall surgical populat ion. Only 46.1% of the gowns used were coated, though the quality of the ba rrier when it is wet is very risky. The protections taken in the operating room against blood-borne pathogens can be improved. (C) 2000 Editions scien tifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.