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Hep B HepC HIV operating team risk
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| On Mar 3 2006 7:33PM rinej wrote: |
East Kent Minor Ops Service.
Patients are referred via a form filled in by the referring GP and put directly on an operating list.
The form is designed to obtain important and relevant information for example if the patient is on anti-coagulants, anti-platelet drugs.
I have put forward the case for requesting if the patient carries any blood bourne viruses which could put the team at increased risk. Of course universal precautions are taken with all patients but I feel the team should be entitled to have this information.
I am aware that many cases will be undiagnosed but I still see benefit in having knowledge of those diagnosed who could be aware of their 'viral load' if they are being monitored for example.
Interested in the arguments for and against but for me personally it is a 'no brainer'. |
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| On Mar 4 2006 11:03AM ajtj wrote: |
What about patients who haven"t told their GP of their diagnosis? Personally
I think staff become complacent if the think they will be told about
patients with BBVs. As you said, universal precautions should be adhered to.
What would you do differently if you knew the status? Your PEP procedure
should be robust because of undiagnosed and undisclosing patients.
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| On Mar 5 2006 2:47PM rinej wrote: |
Aware as you say that some patients may not inform their GP but hiding this information from their GP knowing that they are attending for an operative procedure I feel is unacceptable behaviour.
Staff would not be allowed to become complacent and I'm sure would be able to understand the issues enough to avoid this.
What would we do differently? I personally would double glove for example.
More controversial is the fact that some procedures are of borderline benefit and if I knew a patient had Hep C for example with a high viral load I would consider avoiding that procedure or delaying it until the patient has a safer viral status as could be the case if the patient is currently being treated with interferon.
In all operative procedures it is a weigh up of pros and cons and alternative treatments can be considered as well as the possibility of a wait and see policy.
We are here referring to a minor ops direct referral service.
There is another point here and that is if a sharps injury occurs the management in terms of prophylaxis would be easier knowing a patient carries BBV's?
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 ICNA Community Network MeetingPlease note the next Community ICNA meeting is on the, Wednesday 6th September 2006 and will be held at Eastman Dental Hospital, London.
To download the agenda go to the CICNN page under 'Business and Special Interest Groups' (Member access required)
... More
The 36th Annual Infection Control ConferenceSeptember 25th to 27th 2006
The Brighton Centre
Brighton, England
This is THE Infection control conference of the year, focusing on prevention and control of infections in all areas of healthcare. The conference will provide a mixture of lectures, debates, concurrent sessions, workshops and networking.
Leading international Speakers who have already confirmed include Dr Seto Wing Hong and Stuart Emslie.
To be kept up to date with br... More
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