STANDARD PRECAUTIONS

FOR THE CARE OF ALL PATIENTS

Includes Blood, Body Fluids, Secretions, Excretions And Contaminated Items

Wash hands BEFORE and AFTER patient care, regardless of whether gloves are worn. Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed and between patient contacts.

Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items. Put on clean gloves just before touching mucous membranes & nonintact skin.

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Wear mask and eye protection or a face shield to protect mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth during procedures and patient care activities that are likely to generate splashes of sprays of blood & body fluids.

Wear gown to protect skin and prevent soiling of clothing during procedures and patient care activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood & body fluids. Remove soiled gown as promptly as possible & wash hands.

Take care to prevent injuries when using needles, scalpels and other sharp instruments or devices: when handling sharp instruments after procedures; when cleaning used instruments; and when disposing of used needles. Use mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, or other ventilation devices as an alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that there may be exposure to blood and/or body fluids, radiation or contaminants.

PPE

Includes gloves, gown, face shield, mask, goggles, head covering, boots, leggings, lead apron, etc.

All personal protective equipment should be removed upon leaving the work area, or as soon as possible, if visibly contaminated, and placed in a designate container for washing or disposal.

Gowns

Protect skin and prevent soiling of clothing during procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.

Gloves

Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items. If you are allergic to Latex another type of glove will be made available to you.

Put on clean gloves before touching mucous membranes or non-tact skin.

Change glove when torn or between tasks and procedures on the same patient after contact with material that may contain microorganisms.

Use gloves when performing vascular access procedures, performing finger or heel-sticks, during all cleaning of blood and body fluids and decontamination procedures

Use gloves if you have cuts, scratches, or other breaks in your skin.

Remove all gloves promptly after completing then necessary task.

Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics, lip balm or handle contact lenses in work areas where there is a potential for exposure.

Mask, Eye Protection, Face Shield

Protect mucous membranes of eyes, nose, and mouth.

Wear during procedures and patient care tasks that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions. Glasses are not a substitute for protective eyewear.

Exposure may occur during dental, surgical and laboratory procedures, or postmortem exams.

CPR masks are available in all hospital patient rooms to minimize the need for unprotected mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Standard Precautions continued

Patient Placement

Use a private room for a patient who contaminates the environment or who does not or cannot be expected to assist in maintaining appropriate hygiene or environmental control.

Consult the nursing coordinator if a private room is not available.

Environmental Control

Handle used patient care equipment soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions and/or excretions in manner to prevent transfer of microorganisms.

Protective coverings, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or impervious backed absorbent paper used to cover equipment and environmental surfaces, shall be removed and replaced when contaminated or as soon as feasible.

Bins, pails and other receptacles shall be decontaminated as soon as feasible when contaminated with blood or potentially infectious materials.

Ensure that reusable equipment is not used for the care of another patient until Central Sterile has properly cleaned it.

Follow hospital procedures for routine care, cleaning and disinfect ion of environmental surfaces, beds & rails, bedside equipment and other frequently touched surfaces.

Using gloves handle, transport and process used linen soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions and/or excretions, in a manner to prevent the spread of microorganisms. All laundry must be placed in a fluid proof bag. If the outside bag is visibly soiled with blood or body fluids, place the bag inside another fluid proof bag.

All patient specimens may be infectious. Place them inside plastic biohazard bags before sending them to the laboratory. Do not send soiled containers to the laboratory. Do not place food or drink in refrigerators, freezers, cabinets or other areas when any patient specimens are placed.

Broken glass, which may be contaminated, shall not be picked up by hand. It shall be cleaned up using a broom and dustpan.

Cleaning up spills

Block off the area of the spill. Blood spills should be cleaned up promptly. Wear gloves and apply “absorbent” to spill. Place a paper towel over spill. Clean up spill and dispose of paper towels in “Regulated Medical Waste” bag. Flood the spill area with hospital grade germicidal cleaner. Leave on 10 minutes. Wipe up germicidal cleaner. If you have questions, call the Housekeeping Department.