INFORMATION SHEET FOR CANDIDATE:

You are the only HMO in a small country town

hospital when a new resident arrives who is a doctor
from Germany who has never worked in Australia.
He has done his internship back in Germany and
arrived 4 weeks ago to take up a resident position in
general surgery at your hospital. He has been granted
temporary registration by the Medical Board but he
has not set any AMC examinations yet.
YOUR TASKS ARE TO:
1. Explain the standard and additional infection
control principles in your hospital to the new
doctor.
2. introduce him to the sharps management and
disposal policy
3. talk about occupational exposure to blood or
body substances

THE BASIC INFECTION CONTROL PRINCIPLES (STANDARD AND

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS):

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS (applied to everybody regardless of risk):

1. HAND HYGIENE:
Single most effective method of preventing transmission of infection, but
only 40% compliance in a general hospital!
HAND DISINFECTION:
a) alcoholic chlorhexidine handrub – “Avagard”
b) quick, effective & improves compliance
c) do not use if hands visibly soiled (wash first)
HANDWASHING:
a) social: 15 seconds
b) aseptic: 60 seconds
c) surgical: 3 minutes

2. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

a) gloves – sterile / non sterile
b) eye wear – safety glasses, goggles
c) gown / plastic apron
d) face mask – surgical, fluid shield or mask for TB

3. WASTE DISPOSAL:
a) general waste (green, black or white): all waste except the
following:
b) Infectious waste (yellow): blood stained, laboratory waste
c) Anatomical waste (orange)
d) Radioactive (red) / cytotoxic waste (purple)

4. SHARPS MANAGEMENT / DISPOSAL:

a) use safety devices
b) never separate needles from syringes
c) needles should not be recapped
d) do not pass sharps from one person to another

5. ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE:
a) use for all invasive procedures
b) sikin disinfection
c) sterile equipment
d) “no touch” technique
e) maintain sterile field

6. ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS:
 CONTACT PRECAUTIONS:
1. MRSA
2. VRE, SARS
  DROPLET PRECAUTIONS:
Influenza, RSV, Pertussis, Rubella
 AIRBORNE PRECAUTIONS:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Chicken pox, measles
(negative pressure room)

7. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE:
 SKIN: don’t squeeze, wash with soap and warm
water, apply antiseptic, e.g. chlorhexidine in alcohol or
povidione iodine.
 EYES: remove contact lenses, irrigate with 500 mls
water or saline.
 MOUTH: spit out any material and rinse repeatedly
with water.
!!!Contact responsible infection control person in hospital!!!

8. STAFF VACCINATION:
 Hepatitis B
 Varicella
 MMR
 Influenza
 Mantoux testing

9. STAFF HEALTH:
Notify your supervisor if you suffer from gastroenteritis ( don not return to
work until 48 hours after last symptoms), chickenpox, measles or
influenza

 Ensure protection of self and others (personal protective equipment, vaccinations,

sharps management)