Standard Precautions

Personal Protective Equipment

Defined:

• Universal precautions is the term used to describe the practice in medicine of treating every patient as if they were infected with HIV, using barriers to avoid known means of transmission of HIV. These barriers include using nonporous gloves, goggles, gowns and face shields. Careful handling and disposal of sharp medical instruments such as hypodermic needles are also included in universal precautions.

Gloves should be worn:

• for touching blood and body fluids requiring universal precautions, mucous membranes, or nonintact skin of all patients, and

• for handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids to which universal precautions apply.

• Gloves should be changed after contact with each patient. Hands and other skin surfaces should be washed immediately

(or as soon as patient safety permits if contaminated with blood or body fluids requiring universal precautions)

• Hands should be washed immediately after gloves are removed.

Gowns• When performing procedures that are

likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.

• Always remove gown asap, (turning inside out) and wash hands

• 2 types: impermeable/permeable: use most appropriate

Masks, Eye Protection, Face Shields

• When performing procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions wear a mask and eye protection or face shield.

• This will protect the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth.

Contact: direct physical transfer of organisms from one site to another

• Droplet : generated from infected source during coughing sneezing talking

Types of Transmission

Types of transmission

• Airborne: dispersed by air currents and can remain suspended for long periods of time