Risk of accidental exposure to blood borne infection during plastic surgical operations.

To find out the incidence of accidental exposure to blood borne infections by the operation team in the department of plastic surgery a three month survey was carried out. All episodes of exposure of unprotected skin or mucous membranes to blood were recorded. There were 94 accidents in 746 operations, and 17 (18%) of the injuries penetrated the skin. These were mostly self injuries, typically the surgeon injuring his non-dominant index finger. Only one injured person wanted the patient to have an HIV test after the injury, and none of the injured people wanted an HIV test. Only two reported the injury as an occupational accident.