Prevention of occupational transmission of bloodborne diseases in clinical nurse anesthesia practice.

This article discusses the most commonly recognized bloodborne infectious diseases with which the nurse anesthetist comes into contact during the provision of clinical care: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and the human immunodeficiency virus, along with the potential percutaneous and mucocutaneous routes of exposure. The prevention of occupational exposure to these pathogens is discussed by applying standard or universal precaution measures to anesthesia clinical practice. Treatment measures for accidental exposure to bloodborne pathogens is also discussed.