Universal Infection Control Precautions

    

Introduction:

Universal Infection Control Precautions are the adoption of routine safe infection control practices to protect patients, self & colleagues from infection.

Universal Infection Control Precautions Include:

HAND WASHING:

Proper hand washing is the single most important aspect to prevent & reduce infections.

Methods of hand washing:

• Alcohol Hand rub 30 seconds
• Routine hand washing 10-15 seconds
• Before Aseptic procedure 1 minute
• Surgical wash- 3-5 minutes

Moments of hand washing:

• Before & after duty
• Before & after touching the patient
• Before & after eating
• After toileting
• Before & after any aseptic or invasive  procedure 

PPE:

• Articles designed to safeguard self & patient from infection by breaking chain of infection.

Sequence of donning PPE:

• Gown
• Mask or respirator
• Goggles or face shield
• Gloves

MANAGING SHARPS:

• Never recap needles.
• Dispose of used needles & small sharps immediately in puncture resistant boxes.
• Reusable sharps must be handled with care avoiding direct handling during processing.
• Separate sharps from other waste so laundry workers or waste disposable staff do not get needle stick injury.
• In case of injury report to staff & take hepatitis B vaccine.
• Wash wounds & do not suck.
• Check record for HIV, Hepatitis B & C periodically.

ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE:

• Minimizing risk of introducing pathogenic micro organisms into susceptible sites.
• Prevent transfer of potential pathogens from contaminated site to other sites, patients or staff.

ISOLATION:

• Mostly performed to reduce droplet & airborne infection.
• Limiting the number of visitors & safe handling of patient using barrier method can reduce spread of infection.

STAFF HEALTH:

• Appropriate immunization & initial & periodical health check up of staff.
• Report accidents or incidents.
• Cover lesions with dressing & restrict pregnant staff in departments prone to infection.

LINEN HANDLING & DISPOSAL:

• Appropriate handling of linen needs to be made.
• Gloves need to be donned & any spillage must not be touched bare handed.
• Disposable linen needs to be disposed as per biomedical waste protocols.

WASTE DISPOSAL:

• Yellow bin or plastic sack for high risk waste including contaminated waste of body fluids & human tissue.
• Red bin or sack for plastic wasted including catheter, plastic syringes, gloves etc.
• Blue bin or sac for glass materials.
• White bin for handling sharps.

SPILLAGE OF BODY FLUIDS:

• Don PPE.
• Soak with paper towels & cover the area with hypochlorite solution.
• Clean area with warm water and detergent & then dry.
• Report the incident & follow local policy.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING:

• Proper air ventilation
• Water pipes examination
• Cleaning & dis-infection of equipment.
• Physical facility plans must meet quality & infection control measures.

RISK ASSESSMENT:

• Identify education needs.
• Evaluate new products.
• Periodic assessment of staff.
• Periodic assessing of protocols.