Universal precautions- is an

approach to infection control

to treat all human blood and
certain human body fluids as if
they were known to be
infectious for HIV, HBV and
other blood borne pathogens
The concept of Universal
Health Precaution emphasizes
that all our patients should be
treated as though they have
potential blood born
infections, and can infect the
caring health workers.
 UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION APPLY TO
THE FOLLOWING BODY FLUIDS:
Blood
Semen and vaginal secretions
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Synovial fluid
Pleural fluid
Pericardial fluid
Amniotic fluid
  Personal protective equipment,
commonly referred to as "PPE", is
equipment worn to minimize
exposure to hazards that cause
serious workplace injuries and
Types of PPE illnesses.
 These injuries and illnesses may
result from contact with chemical,
radiological, physical, electrical,
mechanical, or other workplace
hazards
. Hand hygiene

 Hand washing (40–60 sec):

wet hands and apply soap;
rub all surfaces; rinse hands
and dry thoroughly with a
single use towel; use towel
to turn off faucet.
 Hand rubbing (20–30 sec):
apply enough product to
cover all areas of the hands;
rub hands until dry.
 WHEN TO DO HAND WASHING

 Before and after any direct patient

contact and between patients,
whether or not gloves are worn.
 Immediately after gloves are
removed.
 Before handling an invasive
device.
 After touching blood, body fluids,
secretions, excretions, non-intact
skin, and contaminated items,
even if gloves are worn.
Gloves
Wear when touching blood, body
fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous
membranes, non intact skin.
Change between tasks and
procedures on the same patient after
contact with potentially infectious
material.
Remove after use, before touching
non-contaminated items and surfaces,
and before going to another patient.
Perform hand hygiene immediately
after removal.
Facial protection (eyes, nose, and
mouth)
Wear (1) a surgical or procedure
mask and eye protection (eye visor,
goggles) or
(2) a face shield to protect mucous
membranes of the eyes, nose, and
mouth during activities that are
likely to generate splashes or
sprays of blood, body fluids,
secretions, and excretions.
Gown
 Wear to protect skin and
prevent soiling of clothing
during activities that are likely
to generate splashes or sprays
of blood, body fluids,
secretions, or excretions.
 Remove soiled gown as soon
as possible, and perform hand
hygiene
Prevention of needle stick and
injuries from other sharp
instruments
Use care when:
 Handling needles, scalpels,
and other sharp instruments or
devices.
 Cleaning used instruments.
Disposing of used needles
and other sharp instruments.
 Respiratory hygiene and
cough etiquette
Persons with respiratory
symptoms should apply source
control measures:
 Cover their nose and mouth
when coughing/sneezing with
tissue or mask, dispose of
used tissues and masks, and
perform hand hygiene after
contact with respiratory
secretions
. Environmental cleaning
 Use adequate procedures
for the routine cleaning and
disinfection of
environmental and other
frequently touched
surfaces
Linens Handle, transport,
and process used linen in a
manner which:
 Prevents skin and
mucous membrane
exposures and
contamination of clothing.
Avoids transfer of
pathogens to other patients
and or the environment
 Waste disposal
 Ensure safe waste management.
 Treat waste contaminated with
blood, body fluids, secretions and
excretions as clinical waste, in
accordance with local regulations.
 Human tissues and laboratory
waste that is directly associated
with specimen processing should
also be treated as clinical waste.
 Discard single use items properly.
 Patient care equipment
 Handle equipment soiled with
blood, body fluids, secretions, and
excretions in a manner that
prevents skin and mucous
membrane exposures,
contamination of clothing, and
transfer of pathogens to other
patients or the environment.
 Clean, disinfect, and reprocess
reusable equipment appropriately
before use with another patient.
Safety tips in the
work place
1. Laboratory coveralls, gowns or uniforms
must be worn at all times for work in the
laboratory.

2. Appropriate gloves must be worn for all

procedures that may involve direct or
accidental contact with blood, body fluids
and other potentially infectious materials or
infected animals.
3. Open-toed footwear must not
be worn in laboratories

4.Safety glasses, face shields (visors)

or other protective devices must be
worn when it is necessary to protect
the eyes and face from splashes,
impacting objects and sources of
artificial ultraviolet radiation
5. Personnel must wash their
hands after handling infectious
materials and animals, and before
they leave the laboratory
working areas.

6. It is prohibited to wear
protective laboratory clothing
outside the laboratory, e.g. in
canteens, coffee rooms, offices,
libraries, staff rooms and toilets.
7. Eating, drinking, smoking,
applying cosmetics and
handling contact lenses is
prohibited in the laboratory
working areas

8.Storing human foods or

drinks anywhere in the
laboratory working areas is
prohibited.
9.Protective laboratory
clothing that has been used in
the laboratory must not be
stored in the same lockers or
cupboards as street clothing.
Essential biosafety
equipment
. Pipetting aids – to avoid
mouth pipetting. Many
different designs are
available
. Biological safety cabinets, to
be used whenever:
 infectious materials are handled; such materials
may be centrifuged in the open laboratory if
sealed centrifuge safety cups are used and if
they are loaded and unloaded in a biological
safety cabinet — there is an increased risk of
airborne infection — procedures with a high
potential for producing aerosols are used
Plastic disposable transfer loops.
Alternatively, electric transfer loop
incinerators may be used inside the
biological safety cabinet to reduce
aerosol production.