standard precautions: who, what, when, where, & why

Illinois CTECurriculum Revitalization InitiativeHealth Science and Technology

Standard Precautions:Who, What, When, Where, & Why

IL CTE- Health Science & Technology

Do you know how to protect yourself and others from infection?


Do you know what to do if you come in contact with blood?


Two Types of Isolation Precautions These are precautions that prevent the

spread of contagious or communicable diseases diseases caused by pathogens that spread

easily Include standard precautions and

transmission-based precautions.


Standard Precautions

Rules developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Every body fluid must be considered a potentially infectious material, and all patients must be considered potential sources of infection, regardless of their disease or diagnosis.

Standard precautions must be observed while working with all patients because health care providers may contact blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions such as mucus, sputum, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, feces, vomitus, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal secretions; mucous membranes; and non-intact skin.


Blood

The fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal, carrying nourishment and oxygen to, and bringing waste products from, all parts of the body


Mucus

A viscid, slippery secretion that is usually rich in mucins and is produced by mucous membranes, which it moistens and protects


Sputum

The matter discharged from the air passages in diseases of the lungs, bronchi, or upper respiratory tract; it contains mucus and often pus, blood, fibrin, or bacterial products


Saliva

A slightly alkaline secretion of water, mucin, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme (such as ptyalin) that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands, lubricates ingested food, and often begins the breakdown of starches


Cerebrospinal fluid

A liquid comparable to serum but contains less dissolved material that is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain by the choroid plexus, circulates through the ventricles to the spaces between the meninges about the brain and spinal cord, and is resorbed into the blood through the subarachnoid sinuses; it serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord (also called spinal fluid or CSF)


Urine

Waste material that is secreted by the kidney, is rich in end products (such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine) of protein metabolism together with salts and pigments, and forms a clear amber and usually slightly acidic fluid


Feces

Bodily waste discharged through the anus


Vomitus

Stomach contents disgorged through the mouth (also called vomit)


Amniotic Fluid

The serous fluid in which the embryo and fetus is suspended within the amnion

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Semen

A viscid, whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretions of accessory glands (such as the prostate and Cowper’s glands)


Vaginal Secretions

The process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized or isolated for excretion from the vagina


Non-intact Skin

Skin with open breaks


Interstitial fluid

Liquid that fills the space between most of the cells of the body


Pleural fluid

Liquid that surrounds the lungs


Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) The clothing or equipment worn

by an employee for protection against a hazard


Airborne

Particles that float in the air


Droplet

A small drop of fluid


Contact Precautions

Rules that must be followed for any patients known or suspected to be infected with microorganisms that can be transmitted by either direct or indirect contact


Health care facility’s infection control program Immunization of health care workers Training of health care personnel Policies and procedures for device- and procedure-

oriented services Reporting and tracking of the transmission of disease by

the CDC Provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) such

as gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, and face shields in appropriate sizes and in accessible locations

Prevention of the Transmission of Disease


Prevention of the Transmission of Disease Provision of adequate hand-washing facilities and

supplies Identification of jobs with high-risk exposure Provision of medical care and evaluation for any

employee who has an exposure incident Provision of appropriate waste and disposal containers

and guidelines for disposal Enforcement of rules of no eating, drinking, smoking,

applying cosmetics or lip balms, handling contact lenses, and mouth-pipetting or suctioning in any area that can be potentially contaminated.