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Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Experience and Hepatitis B Vaccination and Testing Status of Healthcare Workers in South Carolina: Implications for Compliance With US Public Health Service Guidelines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Ludwig A. Lettau ,
Dawn W. Blackhurst  and
Connie Steed
Ludwig A. Lettau*
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, Division of Medical Education and Research, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, South Carolina
Dawn W. Blackhurst
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, Division of Medical Education and Research, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, South Carolina
Connie Steed
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, Division of Medical Education and Research, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, South Carolina
*
Greenville Hospital System, 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC 2960.5
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Abstract

Objective:

To assess the previous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing experience and the hepatitis B (HB) vaccination and testing status of healthcare workers potentially involved in invasive surgical procedures.

Design:

Anonymous questionnaire survey.

Setting:

Tertiary care and community-teaching medical center and affiliated healthcare facilities in Greenville County, South Carolina.

Participants:

Physicians (including residents in training), dentists, nurses and surgical technicians working in the operating room and labor/delivery areas.

Results:

Of 506 responding physicians and dentists (65% of the sample), 60% previously had had a test for HIV, and 72% had received HB vaccine. Testing had occurred most often because of a requirement by an insurance company or because of blood donation. Eighty percent of tested respondents had their most recent test within 2 years of the time of the survey (August 1991). Of 145 responding nurses and surgical technicians (73% of the sample), 26% had had a test for HIV and 77% had received HB vaccine.

Conclusions:

The majority of surgeons and dentists in Greenville County, South Carolina, already have been tested for HIV for a variety of reasons and thus are aware of their HIV infection status, at least as of the time of the most recent test. The majority of local healthcare workers who are potentially involved with invasive surgical procedures have received HB vaccine. Programs developed in response to recent US Public Health Service guidelines should take HIV testing of healthcare workers for any reason into consideration and should emphasize HB vaccination and testing for vaccine-induced HB immunity

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 13 , Issue 6 , June 1992 , pp. 336 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1992

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