GET me a list of standing order on universal precautions for health workers and!
Question: I work in an hospital which takes care of majorly respiratory diseases(tuberculosis especially),skin diseases(leprosy especially),heart diseases and other general cases in Nigeria.
Answers:
Health care persons/workers should adhere to the following universal precautions:
If you have cuts or other abrasions then cover them with a waterproof plaster.
Mop up blood spills using gloves and paper towels and wash with either detergent or a chlorine solution made from NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) tablets. For large spillages NaDCC granules should be available. An alternative is to use a 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite.
'Spill Kits' containing the above items may also be available in some districts for use in the community. In instances where NaDCC tablets are not available, diluted household bleach should be used.
In hospital settings all linen with blood on it should be sealed in a water-soluble bag. This should then be placed in a red marked bag and labeled according to hospital procedures. Linen contaminated in the community should be washed on a hot wash cycle (approx. 70 degrees). If a machine is not available, contact should be made with the Infection Control Department.
In domestic settings pads, sanitary wear and disposable nappies should be (double) wrapped in polythene bags and put in a lidded bin away from children, or put in an incinerator where available. Hands should be washed before and after changing nappies, or disposable gloves should be used.
Terry nappies and protective plastic pants should be washed as normal (soaked in a bucket with nappy cleanser, rinsed and washed with hot water and detergent).
Wear latex gloves when coming into contact with blood, skin and mucous membrane cuts, or any open skin lesion.
Use gloves only for the care of one child, then discard the gloves.
Wash hands after discarding the gloves.
Properly dispose of contaminated materials exposed to blood, such as needles.
Strict adherence to universal precautions prevents exposure to blood-borne pathogens including HIV and hepatitis B.
http://www.indiaids.org/hiv_aids/univer_precaution.asp
Wearing of appropriate protective gloves at all times when touching blood, saliva, other body fluids or secretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, blood-soiled items or bodily fluid–soiled items, contaminated surfaces, and sterile body areas, and during instrument cleaning and decontamination procedures;
Discarding gloves used following treatment of a patient and changing to new gloves if torn or damaged during treatment of a patient; washing hands and donning new gloves prior to performing services for another patient; and washing hands and other skin surfaces immediately if contaminated with blood or other body fluids;
Wearing of appropriate masks, gowns or aprons, and protective eyewear or chin-length plastic face shields whenever splashing or spattering of blood or other body fluids is likely to occur;
Sterilizing equipment and devices that enter the patient’s vascular system or other normally sterile areas of the body;
Sterilizing equipment and devices that touch intact mucous membranes but do not penetrate the patient’s body, or using high-level disinfection for equipment and devices that cannot be sterilized prior to use for a patient;
Using appropriate agents, including but not limited to detergents for cleaning all equipment and devices prior to sterilization or disinfection;
Cleaning, by use of appropriate agents, including but not limited to detergents, equipment and devices that do not touch the patient or that only touch the intact skin of the patient;
Maintaining equipment and devices used for sterilization according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
Adequately monitoring the performance of all personnel, licensed or unlicensed, for whom the licensee is responsible regarding infection control techniques;
Placing disposable used syringes, needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp instruments in appropriate puncture-resistant containers for disposal; and placing reusable needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp instruments in appropriate puncture-resistant containers until appropriately cleaned and sterilized;
Maintaining appropriate ventilation devices to minimize the need for emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation;
Refraining from all direct patient care and handling of patient care equipment when the healthcare professional has exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis and the condition has not been medically evaluated and determined to be safe, or capable of being safely protected against, in providing direct patient care or in handling patient care equipment;
Placing all specimens of blood and body fluids in well-constructed containers with secure lids to prevent leaking; and cleaning any spill of blood or other body fluid with an appropriate detergent and appropriate chemical germicide.
http://www.nursingceu.com/courses/83/index_nceu.html
This is a good site for laundry and equipment precautions: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/housekeeping/housekeeping.html
Other Answers:
search www.cdc.gov and www.osha.gov
Answers: