Universal Precautions... There Really Is No Choice.

Hand Washing

Washing the hands before and after contact with each patient is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infections.

Hands must be washed before and after patient contact event when gloves are used. Additionally, when caring for a single patient, all personnel must wash their hands after any contact with the patient's excretions and secretions before touching the patient again.


Procedure

• Wet hands.
• Apply antimicrobial soap (about 5cc)
• Wash hands vigorously for at least 10 seconds, paying special attention to areas between the fingers, around the knuckles, wrists, and under the fingernails.
• Thoroughly rinse hands under a stream of water, keeping hands down when washing.
• Dry hands thoroughly; then use paper towel to turn off faucet.

Report Exposures Immediately to your supervisor and to Occupational Health. After hours, report to the emergency room. If you have an exposure, you will require prompt evaluation and treatment. A blood or body fluid exposure is defined as a needlestick or sharp puncture wound. A splash to mucous membrane (eyes, mouth, etc.), or contact with skin that has an open cut, burn, abrasion, or is chapped. If the source patient is known, the patient's attending physician should be notified to arrange for counseling, the patient's consent for HIV testing and a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen should be ordered an incident report documenting the exposure must be completed.


Guide for Specific Procedures