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.

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.