Infection control and risk assessment: a review,a pilot survey and recommendations

Abstract

With the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis Band C viruses, knowledge about clinical safety, infection control and assessment of occupational risks is now an essential requirement for all health care workers. A pilot study of a cross section of United Kingdom health care staff at two hospitals, attending “AIDS awareness” meetings, indicated that staff may not have sufficient knowledge to enable them to make accurate risk assessments in clinical safety or to follow risk reduction strategies to obviate needlestick injury and exposure to blood-borne viruses. The value of organising AIDS awareness meetings, the need for formal training programmes and implementation of clinical safety recommendations are discussed.