Transcript
Universal Precautions
Definition
• Universal precautions are recommended practices used to minimize the risk of exposure to infectious diseases and pathogens(germs) carried in blood and body fluids
Bloodborne Pathogens
• Blood borne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in blood that can cause disease in people
Example of Blood Borne Pathogens
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
Hepatitis B
• Transmitted by blood
• Sexually transmitted
• IV drug users
• Household contact(sharing razors, toothbrushes, drinking after person)
• Can be treated with medications
• Vaccine available
Hepatitis C
• Primarily blood borne • Sexual transmission• Prenatal• Can be transmitted by blood to blood contact
such as non-sterile tattoos, syringes, cuts, etc• No vaccine is available• May be treated with medication if chronic and
causing liver damage
HIV/Aids
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome• Live vaccines should not be administered• Follow universal precautions such as
handwashing, proper handling and disposal of sharps/contaminated materials
• Cleaning/disinfecting after any contact with blood
• Personal protection barriers;gloves, masks, goggles, etc as needed
Common Ways to be exposed to Pathogens in the School Setting
• Nosebleeds• Lost teeth• Cuts• Fights• Vomit• Bathroom accidents/soiled clothing• Contaminated surfaces• Tissues/bandages
Modes of Pathogen Transmission
• Contact from skin to skin or from contaminated surfaces
• Air-born infectious particles in the air
• Droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking
Body Fluids
• When dealing with any body fluids assume that every person has an infectious disease
Protocol for safely dealing with exposure to blood and other potentially
infectious materials
• Essential techniques used to control infections are: effective hand hygiene, using gloves and other barriers, disposing of waste appropriately, and cleaning spills promptly and carefully
Hand Hygiene
• Hand hygiene is the single most important activity to decrease the spread of infections of all kinds
Hand Hygiene
• Wash your hands after using the restroom; before eating; before touching your mouth, face, or eyes
• Should have access to warm water, soap, and towels
• Waterless hand sanitizer may be used if there is no visible soiling of hands; should not be substituted for soap/water; always wash with soap/water after several uses of hand sanitizer
• After wearing gloves
Hand Hygiene
• Apply a dime sized amount of soap/cleaner to hands
• Rub hands vigorously for 10-15 seconds
• Scrub between fingers, under nails, tops of hands and wrist. Sing Yankee Doodle Dandy or Happy Birthday to ensure you spend enough time!
Barriers
• Always wear gloves or place some type of barrier between you and the person you are caring for
• Always wear gloves during clean up procedures
Skin wounds
• Skin wounds such as scratches, abrasions, lacerations, and weeping skin lesions are potentially infectious
• Cover all wounds with a secure bandage
• The injured person should perform his/her own wound care whenever possible
Skin wounds
• Students should be instructed not to handle other people’s blood;should not be asked to assist in controlling a bleeding injury,should not clean blood contaminated enviromental surfaces(such as floors or wrestling mats) or handle contaminated laundry
Blood
• Blood on the skin should be washed off thoroughly with soap and water.
• Activities may be resumed after the wound is covered as long as the injury is minor
Pressure to stop a bleeding wound
• Always wear gloves
• Gloves should never be reused
• Apply new bandage over bandage if saturated with blood
Clean up Procedure
• Always use disposable towels for cleaning up blood or body fluids
• Clean surfaces with an approved disinfectant for schools
• Wet surface with disinfectant; leave on wet for 10 minutes, wipe dry
• Bleach is not used in WCPS
Clean up Procedure
• All materials contaminated with blood/body fluids should be double bagged in a trash liner and sealed
• Gloves should be disposed of in trash
• Trash liners should not be reused
• Trash should be discarded as soon as possible
Non-disposable cleaning equipment and materials
• Mop heads should be disinfected with approved school disinfectant
• Any linens should be stored in a plastic bag until laundered
• Thoroughly wash hands after cleaning even if gloves were worn
Used needles, syringes, other sharp objects
• Needles should not be recapped, bent or removed from the syringe before disposal
• Each school clinic has a Sharps container for all needles
• When the container is 3/4 full; notify the facilities manager by work order that a pick up is needed
Respiratory Etiquette
• Always cover mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing
• Use a tissue to cover mouth or blow nose; dispose of in trash
• Use sleeve/arm instead of hands
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer after sneezing/coughing or blowing nose
MRSA
• Stands for “Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus”
• Became a “super bug” because of overuse of antibiotics by the health care community
• Is resistant to commonly used antibiotics
Treatment of MRSA
• MRSA can be treated by sulfa drugs and Clindamycin
• It is easily killed by good hand hygiene; hand sanitizers and washing with soap/water
• Most forms encountered in schools only cause simple skin infections
• Report any weeping skin lesions to school nurse; even “acne” on face if openly oozing
Exposure
• Do not share towels, drink after others, share razors, toothbrushes
• Even though blood borne pathogens have not been shown to be transmitted in saliva, you should not share personal items
• Blood borne pathogen infections, even when treated, may sometimes be fatal
Education
• Attention to infection prevention and control by all school employees will help attain the goal of maintaining student and employee health.
• Teachers and nurses need to be alert to patterns of illness that may emerge
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