Background: We developed a 50-item questionnaire to assess emergency department (ED) staff members' knowledge of bloodborne pathogen transmission, compliance with Universal Precautions, and the use of personal protective equipment.
Method: A questionnaire was administered to 103 ED staff members including physicians, nurses, and technicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis, a Level-I trauma center.
Results: ED personnel had inadequate knowledge of bloodborne pathogen infection risk, underreported exposures, and underused personal protection equipment during trauma cases.
Conclusion: Further educational interventions for ED personnel are needed to increase their compliance with Universal Precautions.