Essentials of the standard precautions to be used in the care of all patients

[http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/148to158.pdf]

A. Hand washing
· Wash hands after touching blood, secretions, excretions and contaminated items, whether or not gloves are worn. · Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed, between patient contacts.
· Use a plain soap for routine hand washing.
· Use an antimicrobial agent for specific circumstances.

B. Gloves
Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and contaminated items.
Put on clean gloves just before touching mucous membranes and non-intact skin.

C. Mask, eye protection, face shield
Wear a mask and eye protection or a face shield during procedures and patientcare activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.

D. Gown
Wear a gown during procedures and patient-care activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.

E. Patient-care equipment
Ensure that reusable equipment is not used for the care of another patient until it has been cleaned and reprocessed appropriately.

F. Environmental control
Ensure that the hospital has adequate procedures for the routine care, cleaning, and disinfection of environmental surfaces.

G. Linen
Handle used linen, soiled with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions in a manner that prevents skin and mucous membrane exposures, and that avoids transfer of microorganisms to other patients and environments.

H. Occupational health and bloodborne pathogens
· Take care to prevent injuries when using needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments or devices.
· Use ventilation devices as an alternative to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation methods.

I. Place of care of the patient
Place a patient who contaminates the environment or who does not assist in maintaining appropriate hygiene in an isolated (or separate) room.