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Article: Head lice; formaldehyde storage; chewing gum in the OR; building design.
- Article from:
- AORN Journal
- Article date:
- March 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Question: We have many surgical patients who come to our facility with untreated head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), and we cancel the elective surgery until the patient is treated. Is this correct procedure? What controls should be implemented when the surgery is on emergency and cannot be delayed for treatment of the lice? How do we protect employees and patients from the transmission of lice?
Answer: Treating the patient before elective surgery may be the preferred practice. Literature shows that nosocomial transmission of head lice is rare but possible. Head lice are not vectors of specific serious disease, but if they are not treated, complications may ...