Techniques of Standard Precautions 1hr

Techniques of Standard Precautions

Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin (including rashes), and mucous membranes. Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease and are present in human blood. They include but are not limited to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and

hepatitis C virus (HCV). These measures are to be used when providing care to all individuals, whether or not they appear infectious or symptomatic.

​Hand hygiene

​Hand hygiene refers to both washing with plain or anti-bacterial soap and water and to the use of alcohol

gel to decontaminate hands. When hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol gel is the preferred method of handhygiene when providing health care to participants.

​Hand hygiene should be performed before and after contact with a participant, immediately after touching blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, or contaminated items (even when gloves are worn during contact), immediately after removing gloves, when moving from contaminated body sites to clean body sites during participant care, after touching objects and medical equipment in the immediate participant-care vicinity, before eating, after using the restroom, and after coughing or sneezing into a tissue as part of respiratory hygiene.

​When performing hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub, apply product to palm of one hand and rub hands together, covering all surfaces of hands and fingers, until hands are dry. If hands feel dry after rubbing together for 10 15 seconds, it is likely that the person did not apply a sufficient amount of the product. These products should not be used if the hands are visibly soiled.

​When washing hands with soap and water, wet hands first with water, apply the amount of soap recommended by the manufacturer, and rub hands together for at least 15 secondscovering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. Rinse hands with water, dry thoroughly with a disposable towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet.

​Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

​PPE includes items such as gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eyewear used to create barriers that protect skin, clothing, mucous membranes, and the respiratory tract from infectious agents. PPE is used as a last resort when work practices and engineering controls alone cannot eliminate worker exposure. The items selected for use depend on the type of interaction you will have with a participant and the likely modes of disease transmission.

​Wear gloves when touching blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, mucous membranes, and contaminated items.

​Wear a surgical mask and goggles or face shield if there is a reasonable chance that a splash or spray of blood or body fluids may occur to the eyes, mouth, or nose.

​Wear a gown if skin or clothing is likely to be exposed to blood or body fluids. Remove PPE immediately after use and wash hands. It is important to remove PPE in the proper order to prevent contamination of skin or clothing.

​If PPE or other disposable items are saturated with blood or body fluids such that fluid may be poured, squeezed, or dripped from the item, discard into a biohazard bag. PPE that is not saturated may be placed directly in the trash. Saturated waste generated from the home should be placed in sealable leak-proof plastic bags before placing in regular trash bags for disposal.

​Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention

​Safe handling of needles and other sharp devices are components of standard precautions that are implemented to prevent health care worker exposure to blood borne pathogens. The safety devices on needles and other sharps should be activated immediately after use.

​Used needles should be discarded immediately after use and not recapped, bent, cut, removed from the syringe or tube holder, or otherwise manipulated.

• -Any used needles, lancets, or other contaminated sharps should be placed in a leak-proof, punctureresistant sharps container that is either red in color or labeled with a biohazard label.

• Do not overfill sharps containers. Discard after 2/3 full or when contents are at the full line indicated on the containers.

• Used sharps containers may be taken to a collection facility such as an area pharmacy, hospital, or clinic that provides this service.

• ​Participant areas, common waiting areas, and other areas where participants may have potentially contaminated surfaces or objects that are frequently touched by staff and participants (doorknobs, sinks, toilets, other surfaces and items in close proximity to participants) should be cleaned routinely with EPA registered disinfectants, following the manufacturers instructions for amount, dilution, and contact time.

• Housekeeping surfaces such as floors and walls do not need to be disinfected unless visibly soiled with blood or body fluids. They may be routinely cleaned with a detergent only or a detergent/disinfectant product.

​Cleaning and Disinfection

​Most disinfectants are not effective in the presence of dirt and organic matter, therefore cleaning must occur first before disinfection. Wet a cloth with the disinfectant, wipe away dirt and organic material, then with a clean cloth apply the disinfectant to the item and allow to air dry for the time specified by the product manufacturer.

​Some pathogens such as norovirus and Clostridium difficile are not inactivated by commercial disinfectants routinely used in local public health settings. In situations where contamination with these pathogens is suspected, a bleach solution (1:10) is recommended for disinfecting contaminated surfaces and items.

​Some participant care items may be damaged or destroyed by certain disinfectants. Consult with the manufacturer of the items before applying disinfectants.

Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette

• Using tissues to contain respiratory secretions and discarding in the nearest waste receptacle after use.

• Covering the nose/mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or using the crook of the elbow to contain respiratory droplets.

Participants in common areas can spread infections to others in the same area. Measures to avoid spread of respiratory secretions should be promoted to help prevent respiratory disease transmission. Elements of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette include:

Performing hand hygiene (hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic hand wash) immediately after contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials.

• Asking Participants with signs and symptoms of respiratory illness to wear a surgical mask while around others. Look for tissues and no-touch receptacles for used tissue disposal.

• Eating at least three feet apart to minimize close contact among persons in same areas.

​Important Numbers:

1. Poison Control 800-222-1222
   
   
   

2. CDC Emergency Response- 800-232-4636 / TTY: [phone]

Multiple Choice

Olivia is a nurse working in a hospital. She follows certain practices to prevent the transmission of diseases when coming into contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes. What are these practices called?

• A set of practices used to prevent the transmission of diseases by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes.

• A set of dietary guidelines for healthy eating.

• A method for cleaning medical equipment only.

• A way to diagnose infectious diseases.

Multiple Choice

Evelyn is a nurse working in a busy hospital. She is about to start her shift and will be caring for a variety of patients, some of whom may not show any signs of illness. When should Evelyn use standard precautions?

• When providing care to all individuals, regardless of whether they appear infectious or symptomatic.

• Only when a patient is visibly ill.

• Only in emergency situations.

• Only for patients with known infections.

Multiple Choice

Charlotte is working in a healthcare setting. When should she perform hand hygiene?

• Before and after contact with a participant, after touching blood or body fluids, after removing gloves, after using the restroom, and after coughing or sneezing.

• Only before eating.

• Only after using the restroom.

• Only after touching medical equipment.

Multiple Choice

Maya is teaching her younger brother how to wash his hands properly. She tells him there is a recommended duration for rubbing hands together with soap and water. What is the recommended duration?

• At least 15 seconds

• At least 5 seconds

• At least 30 seconds

• At least 1 minute

Multiple Choice

Olivia is preparing to enter a hospital isolation room to care for a patient with a contagious disease. What does Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) include for her protection?

• Gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eyewear

• Only gloves and masks

• Only gowns and respirators

• Only eyewear and gloves

Multiple Choice

Ava is helping to clean up after a patient procedure, and there is a reasonable chance that a splash or spray of blood or body fluids may occur to the eyes, mouth, or nose. What protective equipment should Ava wear?

• Surgical mask and goggles or face shield

• Only gloves

• Only a gown

• Only a hairnet

Multiple Choice

Anika is cleaning her kitchen and finds some saturated waste that needs to be thrown away. In what type of bag should she place this waste before putting it in regular trash bags?

• Paper bag

• Sealable leak-proof plastic bag

• Cloth bag

• Open container

Multiple Choice

Sophia is cleaning up after giving an injection and needs to dispose of a used needle. Where should she place the used needle?

• In a regular trash can

• In a leak-proof, puncture-resistant sharps container labeled with a biohazard label

• In a paper bag

• In a plastic grocery bag

Multiple Choice

Kai has a full sharps container at home and needs to dispose of it safely. Where should Kai take the used sharps container for proper disposal?

• To a local park

• To a collection facility such as a pharmacy, hospital, or clinic

• To a grocery store

• To a landfill

Multiple Choice

Michael is cleaning a kitchen where someone was recently sick and suspects contamination with pathogens such as norovirus. What should Michael do?

• Use a bleach solution (1:10)

• Use only water

• Use air freshener

• Wait for 24 hours

Multiple Choice

Abigail is in class when she feels a sneeze coming on. What is an important element of respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette that she should follow?

• Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

• Sneeze into the air.

• Use your hands to cover your mouth and do not wash them.

• Ignore coughs and sneezes.

Multiple Choice

Priya has just finished sneezing into a tissue. What should she do with the tissue after using it to contain her respiratory secretions?

• Discard it in the nearest waste receptacle

• Reuse it

• Leave it on the table

• Flush it down the toilet

Multiple Choice

Maya is helping care for someone who has a cold. After she accidentally touches a used tissue and some surfaces that may be contaminated with respiratory secretions, what should she do immediately?

• Perform hand hygiene (hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic hand wash)

• Eat food

• Take a nap

• Go outside for fresh air

Multiple Choice

Grace is experiencing signs and symptoms of a respiratory illness. What is recommended for her when she is around others?

• Wear a surgical mask

• Wear sunglasses

• Wear gloves only

• Wear a hat