Lindy,

        I am confused as your justification in taking blood every 3-5 years to exclude infection risk from non respondent staff.

What would be the course of action if a staff member showed infection markers. You would not be able to show if it was from lifestyle cause or patient infection nor would you be able to quantify if there had been any cross infection to patients unless all patients also had bloods taken for hep B status on admission.

 

Si

  

 

 

Thanks Si

 

We take the view that everyone should be using universal precautions anyway, regardless of the patients or the staff members hep B status.

 

Our Consultant microbiologist pointed out that non-immune members of staff may contract hep B from their social/outside work activities and become an infection risk.  So we will probably be checking for markers of infection every 3-5 years.

 

Lindy

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Si Rainbow [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

Sent: 29 February 2004 03:45

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Hepatitis B - non-immune staff

 

 

Lindy,

     Perhaps you are approaching this problem from the wrong direction.

Employees not in exposure risk procedures whom are non respondent should

be informed of there status and therefore lack of 'additional' protection.

However the roles they are performing should have thourgh risk assessment

and although the hazards are present the risk should be low. Don't forget

the first principal of PPE is to remove/reduce risk, vaccination should be

addressed in this way.

 

Regards Si

 

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