Standard precautions are the basic infection control
practices which must be adhered to while caring any patient in hospital. If
fully implemented, standard precaution can drastically reduce the risk of
infection to healthcare providers and patients. They are minimum level of
precaution and may not be sufficient for special situations which requires
special precautions. As these precautions should be taken in all kinds of
patient care process they are also called as universal precautions.
Elements of standards precautions are as follows
1. Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene include hand washing of 40-60
seconds with soap and water OR hand rub of 20-30 seconds using a
hand-sanitizer. Hand hygiene must be practised in all the situations given
below,
a.
Before and after direct contact with patient and
in between patients, whether or not gloves are worn
b.
After removal of gloves
c.
Before handling an invasive device
d.
After touching blood or any other body secretion,
even if the gloves are worn
e.
While moving from contaminated to clean body
part of the same patient
f.
After contact with inanimate objects in the
vicinity of patients
2. Use of gloves
Gloves must be worn in the following
situations
a. While touching blood, body fluids, secretions,
excretions, mucous membrane or non-intact skin
b.
Before undertaking any invasive procedure on
patient
c. If the gloves has come into contact with
potentially infectious material, it must be changed before undertaking another
procedure, even for same patient
d.
Same glove should not be used for handling more
than one patient
3. Use of masks
Masks are used for facial protection (eyes,
nose and mouth). Surgical or procedure mask should be worn along with goggles
or eye visor, while carrying out any activity that may generate splashes or
sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions
4. Use of Gown
Gown must be worn when activities are
likely to generate splashes of blood, body fluid, secretion or excretion, which
can potentially spoil the dress or affect the skin of the caregiver
5. Handling of needles and sharps
Proper handling of needles and sharps are
essential to prevent needle stick / sharp injuries which can transmit
infections. Following prevention shall be adhered to
a.
Do not re-cap needle. In case re-capping is
unavoidable use one hand scoop technique
b.
Dispose use needles and sharps in a puncture
proof container
6. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
Person with cough and cold must cover their
nose and mouth with a tissue or masks when coughing / sneezing. The used tissue
and masks must be disposed of. Hand hygiene must be done immediately after that
Patients with respiratory symptoms must be
placed at-least 3 feet away from other patients
7. Environmental cleaning
Routine cleaning and disinfection of
patient care areas including toilets must be done regularly. Appropriate
cleaning agent must be used for this
8. Handling of linen
Linen must be handled, transported and
processed in a manner which
a.
Prevents skin and mucous membrane exposure and
contamination of clothing
b.
Avoid transfer of pathogen to other patients
c.
Linen soiled with blood or body fluid should not
be mixed with other linen. Such linen must be decontaminated before laundering
and re-using
9. Waste disposal
Biomedical waste are infected and should be
handled in accordance to Bio-medical waste management and handling rules
10. Patient care equipment
Patient care equipment should be regularly
cleaned, decontaminated and sterilized as per the requirement
