HIV and Interventional Radiology: A National Survey of Physician Attitudes and Behaviors

M. E. Hansen, G. L. Miller, H. C. Redman, D. D. McIntire

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The frequency of parenteral and cutaneous exposure to blood or body fluid during interventional radiologic procedures, current use of barrier precautions by interventional radiologists, and physician attitudes about testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and related issues were assessed. An anonymous survey of interventional radiologists was conducted by mail in November 1991. Of 1,530 surveys, 819 (54%) were returned and 806 (53%) were completed and evaluable. Ninety-six percent of respondents (763 of 794) perform procedures in patients infected with HIV. Sixty-nine percent oppose mandatory testing of physicians for HIV. Eighty-seven percent (693 of 797) reported at least one procedure-related injury (range, 0–99; mean, four). Fifty-eight percent of injuries occurred with use of a sharp instrument (381 of 662), 20% were due to needle recapping (133 of 662), and 7% (44 of 662), to improper disposal of a sharp instrument. Contact between a physician's blood and a patient was reported in only one case (0.2%). Eighty-five percent of respondents (671 of 789) changed their use of barrier precautions in the last 10 years; concerns about HIV were cited by 96% as a reason for change. Reported use of barrier measures was highly variable. Exposure to patients’ blood or body fluid is not infrequent during interventional radiologic procedures. Exposure of patients to the blood or body fluid of health care workers is rare. Use of recommended precautions in interventional radiology is variable, and practices that could lead to preventable injury remain common. Strategies should be developed to reduce risks even further and to encourage universal compliance with government guidelines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-236
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

Keywords

  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
  • CDC
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • HCW
  • HIV
  • Interventional procedures, complications
  • MH
  • Mantel-Haenszel
  • OSHA
  • Occupational Safety and Health Organization
  • Radiology and radiologists, iatrogenic injury
  • Radiology and radiologists, socioeconomic issues
  • SCVIR
  • Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
  • health care worker
  • human immunodeficiency virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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