Universal precautions: Attitudes of Australian and New Zealand anaesthetists

Objective: To survey the attitudes oi a group of Australasian anaesthetists to the risks of bloodborne infections, and their understanding of Universal Precautions. Design: A questionnaire survey. Setting: A conference 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. Only 37% always wore gloves while administering anaesthetics, and 67% reported they resheathed needles. Thirty-nine per cent had had needlestick 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 never had their serological response checked. Twelve Fer cent of anaesthetists 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 current situation of Australasian anaesthetists not complying with Universal Precautions and not laking a risk history for bloodborne pathogens may carry the greatest risk of accidental infection.