The postanesthesia care unit: a high-risk environment for bloodborne and infectious respiratory pathogens

Abstract

The PACU is a high-risk environment for exposure to infectious diseases. A confluence of risk factors unique to the PACU increases the probability for exposure of personnel to both bloodborne and airborne pathogens. These risk factors include frequent coughing in the PACU, blood-contaminated saliva in the PACU, air mixing maximized in the PACU, high patient census and rapid patient turnover, inadequate patient histories, and the proximity of the postanesthesia nurse to the patient's face. Both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control have issued recommended procedures for limiting occupational exposure of personnel to these hazards.