Standard Precautions for Infection

Control in Hospitals
Standard precautions are the basic infection control practices which must be adhered
to while caring any patient in hospital. If fully implemented, standard precaution can
drastically reduce the risk of infection to healthcare providers and patients. They are
minimum level of precaution and may not be sufficient for special situations which
requires special precautions. As these precautions should be taken in all kinds of
patient care process they are also called as universal precautions.
Elements of standards precautions are as follows
      

     1.       Hand hygiene 
Hand hygiene include hand washing of 40-60 seconds with soap and water OR hand
rub of 20-30 seconds using a hand-sanitizer. Hand hygiene must be practised in all
the situations given below,
a.       Before and after direct contact with patient and in between patients, whether or not
gloves are worn
b.       After removal of gloves
c.       Before handling an invasive device
d.       After touching blood or any other body secretion, even if the gloves are worn
e.       While moving from contaminated to clean body part of the same patient
f.        After contact with inanimate objects in the vicinity of patients

      2.       Use of gloves
Gloves must be worn in the following situations
a.     While touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membrane or non-
intact skin
b.       Before undertaking any invasive procedure on patient
c.    If the gloves has come into contact with potentially infectious material, it must be
changed before undertaking another procedure, even for same patient
d.       Same glove should not be used for handling more than one patient

      3.       Use of masks
Masks are used for facial protection (eyes, nose and mouth). Surgical or procedure
mask should be worn along with goggles or eye visor, while carrying out any activity
that may generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions

      4.       Use of Gown
Gown must be worn when activities are likely to generate splashes of blood, body
fluid, secretion or excretion, which can potentially spoil the dress or affect the skin of
the caregiver

      5.       Handling of needles and sharps

Proper handling of needles and sharps are essential to prevent needle stick / sharp
injuries which can transmit infections. Following prevention shall be adhered to
a.       Do not re-cap needle. In case re-capping is unavoidable use one hand scoop
technique
b.       Dispose use needles and sharps in a puncture proof container 

      6.       Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette

 Person with cough and cold must cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or masks
when coughing / sneezing. The used tissue and masks must be disposed of. Hand
hygiene must be done immediately after that
Patients with respiratory symptoms must be placed at-least 3 feet away from other
patients

7.       Environmental cleaning
Routine cleaning and disinfection of patient care areas including toilets must be done
regularly. Appropriate cleaning agent must be used for this

      8.       Handling of linen
Linen must be handled, transported and processed in a manner which
a.       Prevents skin and mucous membrane exposure and contamination of clothing
b.       Avoid transfer of pathogen to other patients
c.       Linen soiled with blood or body fluid should not be mixed with other linen. Such linen
must be decontaminated before laundering and re-using

      9.       Waste disposal
Biomedical waste are infected and should be handled in accordance to Bio-medical
waste management and handling rules

      10.   Patient care equipment

Patient care equipment should be regularly cleaned, decontaminated and sterilized
as per the requirement