Abstract
Testing Patients for blood-transmitted diseases such as HBS antigen, HCV antibody, HCV antibody before bronchoscopy have been performed widely in Japanese hospitals. Since introduction of diagnosis related group / prospective payment systems and evidence based infection controls into hospitals , screening for bloodtransmitted diseases before endoscopy have been reconsidered. We discussed the needs for such screening before bronchoscopy. Methods and results. We analysed a total of 406 bronchoscopy between 2002 to 2003 in Hiroo-general hospital. A total of 99.3% of brochoscopy was performed after screening. There was no occupational exposure of blood including sharps injury during the sametime at division of endoscopy. Discussions and Conclusions . Fiberoptic bronchoscopies are changed by every patients and wash and disinfected with orthophthalaldehyde by automatic sysyems in our hospital. We have no sharp injury related to bronchoscopy. When sharp injury was happened, blood infection examination can be performed at any time. We concluded screening for blood-transmitted diseases is unnecessary before bronchoscopy in the case of observance standard precautions.
