General Precautons

Items covered in this section:

Sterilisation, disinfection and cleansing

The level of disinfection or sterilisation required for instruments and equiopmetn will depend on the proc3edure.Sterile equipment should be used whenever a procedure involves breachign a barrier (for example, cutting and sharps) or entering sterile body cavities (for example, the urethra or bladder.)

Disinfection of equipment should take place where there is a less stringent requirement for sterility, for example, entering a body cavity that is not considered sterile (for example, the vagina, bowel or mouth.)

Standard precautions:
These are the minimum precautions kilinicans are expected to take to protect themselves and their patients from harm.

Wash hands before and after every direct contact with blood or body fluids and avoid hand to mouth/eye contact during any procedures which breach the body's defences.
WEar gloves when contact with blood or body fluids, mucous membranes or non-intact skin is anticipated (and wash hands after their removal.)
Take precations to prevent puncture wounds cuts and abrasions in teh presence of blood
Portect skin lesions and existing wounds by means of waterproof dressings and/or gloves
Avoid invasive procedures if they are suffering from chronic skin lesions on the hands
Avoid exposure to sharps by taking particular care intheir handling and disposal and to always dispose of sharps into an approved sharps container
Never re-sheath needles and always dispose of them directly into a sharps container
Protect teh eyes and mouth if splashing with blood or body fluids is anticipated
Control surface contamination by blood and body fluids thruogh appropriate decontamination of equipment
Clear up spillages of blood and other body fluids promptly with an appropriate disinfectant
Dispose of all contaminated waste safely

lili (2008)