Infected health care workers and patient safety: a double standard

Jane L Perry; Richard D Pearson; Janine Jagger

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2006.01.004

Infected health care workers and patient safety: a double standard

Am J Infect Control. 2006 Jun;34(5):313-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2006.01.004.

Authors

Jane L Perry¹, Richard D Pearson, Janine Jagger

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, UVA Health System, PO Box 800764, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0764, USA. jlp6f@virginia.edu

PMID: 16765212
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2006.01.004

Abstract

US policy regarding health care worker-to-patient transmission of bloodborne pathogens, issued in 1991, is flawed. We review current evidence of such nosocomial infections and conclude that a standardized national policy is needed, which includes improved surveillance and follow-up of blood exposures to patients and targeted practice restrictions for infected practitioners performing exposure-prone procedures.

Publication types

Comment
Review

MeSH terms

Blood-Borne Pathogens*
Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / transmission*
HIV Infections / epidemiology
HIV Infections / transmission*
Health Policy*
Hepatitis B / epidemiology
Hepatitis B / transmission*
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / prevention & control
Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / statistics & numerical data*
Quality of Health Care / standards*
Risk Factors
United States