Infection control revisited: dilemma facing today's bronchoscopists [published errata appear in BMJ 1988 Aug 6;297(6645):411 and BMJ 1988 Sep 17;297(6650):731] NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Infection control revisited: dilemma facing today's bronchoscopists [published errata appear in BMJ 1988 Aug 6;297(6645):411 and BMJ 1988 Sep 17;297(6650):731]

BMJ. 1988 Jul 16;297(6642):185-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/88310242
Hanson PJ; Jeffries DJ; Batten JC; Collins JV; Brompton Hospital, London.

Abstract: The emergence of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome has provoked a widespread review of policies for infection control. Incomplete knowledge about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and mycobacteria has until now been compensated for by adopting overkill precautions for patients who were thought to harbour these organisms. This policy is no longer tenable, given the difficulty in identifying infected patients. The control of infection in hospitals must instead be based on the routine use of high standards of hygiene that are adequate to contain all pathogens. Attempts by bronchoscopists to formulate such a policy have been frustrated by the lack of a suitable disinfectant and by ignorance of the susceptibility of microorganisms to cleaning and disinfection in a clinical environment.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*TRANSMISSION *Bronchoscopy/ADVERSE EFFECTS/INSTRUMENTATION Cross Infection/*PREVENTION & CONTROL Disinfectants/PHARMACOLOGY Equipment Contamination/PREVENTION & CONTROL Fiber Optics Hepatitis B Virus/DRUG EFFECTS Human Mycobacterium/DRUG EFFECTS Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDtransmissionKWDbronchoscopy/adverseeffects/instrumentationcrossinfection/KWDprevention&controldisinfectants/pharmacologyequipmentcontamination/prevention&controlfiberopticshepatitisbvirus/drugeffectshumanmycobacterium/drugeffectssupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tjournalarticle
881230
M88C0591

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