Standard of infection control in
clinical settings
Infection Control Course
IAU- Nursing College
2022
Outline
Define standard precautions
History of Infection Control Precautions
Differentiate between standard vs universal precautions.
Discuss the elements of standard precautions
Standard Precautions
“A set of precautions designed to prevent transmission of HIV,
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other blood borne pathogens
when providing first aid or health care. Under standard
precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all patients
are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV and
other blood borne pathogens” (CDC, 2022).
Timeline of Infection Control
Precautions
18 • SEPARATES FACILITIES/ ANTISEPSIS AND
77-
19 DISINFECTIONS
10
19 • UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
85
19
• BODY SUBSTANCE ISOLATION
87
19 • STANDARD PRECAUTIONST
96
20 • ISOLATION PRECAUTIONS
07
Standard Vs Universal Precautions
Universal Precautions: The practice of avoiding contact with
bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles
such as gloves, goggles, and face shields.
The practice was introduced in1985
In 1996, this term was replaced with the term standard
precautions.
Blood Borne Pathogen
► Blood borne pathogens are
microorganisms in the blood or other body
fluids that can cause illness and disease
in people. These microorganisms can be
transmitted through
contact with contaminated blood and body
fluids
► Illnesses that result? Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C, and HIV
Elements of Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene
Gloves
Mask, goggles, face masks
Gown
Prevention of needle stick injuries from sharp
instruments
Respiratory hygiene cough etiquette
Environmental cleaning
Linens
Waste disposal
Patient care equipment
Hand Hygiene
It is a major component of standard
precautions and one of the most
effective methods to prevent
transmission of pathogens associated
with health care.
Your Hands Could Carry Two Types of
Bacteria
Resident flora
Part of body’s natural defense mechanism
Deep seated
Difficult to remove
Associated with infection following surgery/invasive
procedures
Transient flora:
Superficial
Transferred with ease to and from hands
Important cause of cross-infection
Easily removed with good hand hygiene
How Healthcare Provider Can Get It?
Healthcare providers can get 100s to 1000s of
bacteria on their hands by doing simple tasks like:
Pulling patients up in bed
Taking a blood pressure or pulse
Touching a patient’s hand
Touching the patient’s gown or bed sheets
Touching equipment like bedside rails, over bed
tables, IV pumps
What about the Patients ?
Patients often carry resistant bacteria on many areas
of their skin, even without wounds or broken skin
Hand Hygiene
Does Hand Hygiene Helps in Reducing the
Spread of Microorganisms?
In a scientific study performed in a hospital nursery
1/2 of the nurses did not wash their hands between
patient contacts.
1/2 of the nurses washed their hands with an
antimicrobial soap between patient contacts
Babies cared for by nurses who did not wash their
hands acquired S. aureus significantly more often
than babies cared for by nurses who washed their
hands with an antimicrobial soap.
Types of Hand Hygiene
Tips for Perfect Clean Hands
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Definition:
“Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an
employee for protection against infectious
materials”. (OSHA, 2022)
ASSESS THE RISK of exposure to body
substances or contaminated surfaces BEFORE
any health-care activity. Make this a routine!
Select PPE Based on the Assessment
of Risk:
Clean non-sterile gloves
Clean, non-sterile fluid-
resistant gown
Mask and eye protection or a
face shield
Gloves
Wear when touching blood, body fluids,
secretions, excretions, mucous
membranes, nonintact 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 pat
Facial protection (eyes, nose, and
mouth)
Include:
Eyes
Nose
Mouth.
Different Types of N95 Masks
Respirator Fit Test
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.
Gown Removal Techniques
PEE Donning and Doffing
Prevention of needle stick and injuries
from other sharp instruments
• Avoiding the use of needles where safe and effective alternatives are
available
• Helping your employer select and evaluate devices with safety features
that reduce the risk of needlestick injury
• Using devices with safety features provided by your employer
• Avoiding recapping needles
• Planning for safe handling and disposal of needles before using them
Prevention of needle stick and
injuries from other sharp instruments
• Promptly disposing of used needles in conveniently placed and
appropriate sharps disposal containers
• Reporting all needlestick and sharps-related injuries promptly to ensure
that you receive appropriate follow-up care
• Telling your employer about any needlestick hazards you observe and
promptly reporting any needlesticks and near-misses
• Participating in training related to infection prevention
• Getting a hepatitis B vaccination
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.
Health-care facilities
should:
Place acute febrile respiratory symptomatic
patients at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from
others in common waiting areas, if possible.
Post visual alerts at the entrance to health-care
facilities instructing persons with respiratory
symptoms to practice respiratory hygiene/cough
etiquette.
Consider making hand hygiene resources, tissues
and masks available in common areas and
areas used for the evaluation of patients with
respiratory illnesses.
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.
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.
Management of Exposure to Blood/Body
Fluids Summary Table
WHEN WHAT
First aid
Relief from duty
Immediately
Risk assessment
after exposure
Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – if significant
injury
Source assessment
Documentation of exposure
As soon as Prevention of transmission and exposure/pre-test
possible (same counselling
day) Baseline serology if agreed to
Referral to specialist physician -if PEP commenced
Support of significant others
Post-test counselling with results of baseline
1-3 weeks serology
Occupational health and safety review
Pre HIV test counselling 01/24/2025
3 months
Follow up serology – HIV, HBV, HCV
Common High-Touch Surfaces
Environmental Cleaning
Use adequate procedures for the routine cleaning and
disinfection of environmental and other frequently
touched surfaces.
