Basic standard precaution on infection control?

Answer 1

Practice Hand Hygiene - washing hands with plain or anti-bacterial soap and water and using alcohol gel to decontaminate the hands:

1. - before and after contact with a patient
2. - after touching blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membrane or contaminated items, even when gloves were used
3. - before putting on and after removing gloves
4. - when moving from contaminated body sites to clean body sites during patient care
5. - after touching objects and medical equipment in the immediate vicinity of the patient
6. - before and after eating
7. - after using the restroom
8. - after coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the hand

Using Personal Protective Equipment:

• - gloves - when touching blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membranes and contaminated areas. Also during activities involving vascular access.
• - gowns - when skin or clothing may be exposed to blood or body fluids
• - masks, goggles, and face shields - when there's a chance of blood or body fluid spray or splash to the facial area (eyes, mouth or nose)
• - respirators
• - eyewear
• - dispose of items used in patient care that are saturated with blood or body fluids using biohazard bags or other containers

Prevent Needlestick and Sharps Injuries:

• - using safe handling of needles and other sharp devices
• - activating safety devices on needles or other sharps immediately after use
• - disposing of needles in a biohazard sharps container
• - do not overfill sharps containers; discard after 2/3 full

Cleaning and Disinfection of:

• patient care areas
• - common waiting areas
• - doorknobs
• - sinks
• - toilets
• - other surfaces and items in close proximity to patients
• - cleaning routinely with EPA registered disinfectants

Respiratory Hygiene - Measures to avoid spread of respiratory secretions should be promoted to help prevent respiratory disease transmission:

• - covering the nose/mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• - using tissues to contain respiratory secretions and discarding in the nearest waste receptacle after use
• - performing hand hygiene
• - asking patients with signs and symptoms of respiratory illness to wear a surgical mask while waiting in common areas or sit in examination rooms or areas away from others
• - providing tissues and no-touch receptacles for used tissue disposal
• - spacing seating in waiting areas at least three feet apart to minimize close contact among patients
• - providing supplies such as tissues, waste baskets, alcohol gel, and surgical masks in waiting and other common areas
• - placing cough etiquette signs where the general public can see them

Waste Disposal

- sharp items should be disposed of in containers that are puncture resistant, leak-proof, closable, and labeled with the biohazard symbol or are red in color

• - sharps containers should be replaced when filled up to the indicated "full" line
• - non-sharp disposable items saturated with blood or body fluids should be discarded into biohazard bags that are puncture resistant, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard symbol or red in color

Safe Injection Practices:

• - using a new needle and syringe every time a medication vial or IV bag is accessed
• - using a new needle and syringe with each injection of a patient
• - using medication vials for one patient only

Answer 2

is intact skin an example of infection control barrier