Universal Precautions

Standards and safety precautions

1. Universal precautions: standards and safety precautions Prepared By; Ms. Bincy Cherian Asst.Prof CNK

2. Introduction Universal precautions refers to the practice of avoiding contact with patients’ bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields. Medical instruments, especially scalpels and hypodermic needles should be handled carefully and disposed of properly in a sharps container. Pathogens fall into two broad categories, blood borne (carried in the body fluids) and air borne. Standard universal precautions cover both types. Universal precautions should be practiced in any environment where workers are exposed to bodily fluids, such as: Blood, semen, vaginal secretions, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, bodily fluids that do not require such precautions include: Feces, nasal secretions, urine, vomitus, perspiration, sputum, saliva
Universal precautions are the infection control techniques that were recommended following the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s. Essentially it means the every patient is treated as if they are infected and therefore precautions are taken to minimize risk. Essentially, universal precautions are good hygiene habits such as washing and the use of gloves and other barriers correct sharps handling and aseptic techniques.

3. Conditions Indicating Additional Precautions Disease with airborne transmission (e.g. tuberculosis) Disease with droplet transmission (e.g. mumps, rubella,influenza , pertusis ) Transmission by direct or indirect contact with dried skin (e.g. colonization with MRSA) or contaminated surfaces.
Or any combination of the above. Universal precautions are recommended not only for doctors, nurses and patients, but for health care support workers. Some support workers, most notably laundry and housekeeping staff, may be required to come into contact with patients or bodily fluids.

4. Universal precautions Barrier protection should be used at all times to prevent skin and mucous membrane contamination with blood, body fluids containing visible blood, or other body fluids. The type of barrier protection used should be appropriate for the type of procedures being performed and the type of exposure anticipates. Examples of barrier protection include disposable, lab coats, gloves, and eye and face protection.

5. Gloves are to be worn when there is potential for hand or skin contact with blood, other potentially infectious material, or items and surfaces contaminated with these materials Wear face protection (face shield) during procedure that are likely to generate droplet of blood or body fluid to prevent exposure to mucus membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Wear protective body clothing when there is a potential for splashing of blood or body fluids, Never try to pipette by mouth. Use mechanic pipetting devices instead. Wash hands or other skin surface, thoroughly and immediately if contaminate with blood, body fluids containing visible blood or other body fluids to which universe precautions apply.
Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed. Avoid accidental injuries that can be caused by needles, scalpel blades, laboratory instruments, etc., when performing procedures, cleaning instruments, handling sharp instruments, and disposing of used needles, pipettes etc.
Used needles, disposable syringes, scalpel blades pipettes, and other sharp items are to be placed in puncture resistant containers marked with a biohazard symbol for disposal.

6. PRECAUTIONS ISSUES OF CONCERN Airborne precautions should be used for the following infections and conditions Aspergillosis Herpes Zoster Measles Monkey Pox Severe acute respiratory syndrome Small pox Tuberculosis Varicella Zoster

7. Precautions issues of concern Droplet precautions should be used for the followin infections and conditions Adenovirus Haemophilus influenzae type b Influenza , pandemic Neisseria meningitis Mumps Mycoplasma pneumonia Parvovirus Pertussis Yersinia pestis Group A streptococcus Rhinovirus Rubella 13. Viral hemorrhagic fever 14. Ebola 15. Lassa fever

8. Precautions issues of concern Contact precautions should be used for the following infections and conditions Abscess Adenovirus Diphtheria Hepatitis A Viral conjunctivitis Lice TB Small Pox Polio myelitis 10. Monkey pox 11. Parainfluenza virus 12. Scabies