Infection precautions: what works and what does not.

Anesthesia personnel are at risk for exposure to many potentially infectious organisms, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the blood of patients whose blood-borne pathogen status is unknown. This article describes three strategies for reducing risks of occupational exposure to health care workers: the body substance isolation system, universal precautions, and sharps safety procedures. The occupational health heirarchy of worker safety that includes engineering controls, work practice modifications, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment is presented. Studies to substantiate the various strategies are referenced.