Standard Precautin for Nursing

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS

Universal Precautions

Universal Precautions are fundamental safety measures in healthcare settings aimed at preventing the spread of infections. These rules emphasize that all patients should be considered potentially infectious, regardless of their diagnosis or appearance. Healthcare workers must treat all blood, body fluids, and tissues as potentially infectious, thereby reducing the risk of transmission of diseases. Additionally, all unsterile needles and other sharp instruments should be assumed contaminated, requiring careful handling and proper disposal. By following these principles, healthcare providers can ensure a safer environment for both patients and staff.

Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions are a set of infection prevention practices that must be followed in all patient care situations, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis or infection status. These precautions ensure the safety of both healthcare providers and patients by minimizing the risk of exposure to infectious agents. All staff members are required to strictly adhere to these practices and must be informed of the importance of immediately reporting any exposure to blood or potentially infectious body fluids to the duty doctor without delay. Prompt reporting enables timely medical evaluation, initiation of prophylactic measures, and prevention of further risks.

Certain standard precautions should be taken in all health care settings as given below:

 3.2.1 Wash hands before and after all patient or specimen contact.

3.2.2 Handle the blood of all patients as potentially infectious.

3.2.3 Wear gloves for potential contact with blood and body fluids.

3.2.4 Prevent needle stick/sharp injuries.

3.2.5 Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling blood or body fluids.

3.2.6 Handle all linen soiled with blood and/or body secretion as potentially infectious.

3.2.7 Process all laboratory specimens as potentially infectious.

3.2.8 Wear a mask for TB and other contagious respiratory infections.

3.2.9 Correctly process instruments and patient care equipment.

3.2.10 Maintain environmental cleanliness.

3.2.11 Follow proper waste disposal practices.

Reducing Person-To-Person Transmission

Hand Washing and Antisepsis (Hand Hygiene) is one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Proper hand hygiene helps to minimize microorganisms acquired on the hands during routine duties, especially when coming into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and both known and unknown contaminated equipment or surfaces. Regular and correct hand washing with soap and water, or the use of alcohol-based hand rubs, significantly reduces the risk of cross-contamination and protects both patients and healthcare workers from healthcare-associated infections.

“My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene”Approach

The “My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene” Approach, developed from the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, is a globally recognized method to improve infection prevention and control practices. It identifies the critical moments when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene to ensure maximum protection for both patients and staff. These five key moments are:

1.  Before touching a patient – to protect the patient from harmful germs carried on the healthcare worker’s hands.
2. Before clean/aseptic procedures – to prevent the transfer of germs into sterile or vulnerable body sites.
3. After exposure to body fluids – to protect the healthcare worker and the environment from contamination.
4. After touching a patient – to prevent carrying germs from the patient to others.
5. After touching patient surroundings – to avoid transferring germs from the patient’s environment to oneself or to others.Posters prompting and reminding healthcare workers about the importance of hand hygiene

And about the appropriate indications and procedures for performing it are displayed in various sections of hospital.

The correct use of alcohol-based handrub is an essential step in effective hand hygiene and should take about 20–30 seconds to complete. A sufficient amount of handrub should be applied to the palm to cover all surfaces of the hands. Begin by rubbing the palms together, then rub the right palm over the left dorsum and vice versa with fingers interlaced. Next, rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced, followed by rubbing the backs of the fingers against the opposing palms. Each thumb should then be clasped and rotated in the opposite palm, and finally, the fingertips should be rubbed in a circular motion on the opposite palm to clean under the nails. The process should continue until the hands are dry, without wiping off the product. This stepwise technique ensures thorough coverage and helps prevent the spread of infections.

Step 1 –Apply a palmfull of the hand sanitizer in a cupped hand, covering all surfaces.

Step 2 -Rub hands palm against palm.

Step 3-Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and viceversa.

Step 4 –Palm against palm with fingers interlaced.

Step 5 -Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.

Step 6 -Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and viceversa.

Step 7- Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. Once dry, your hands are safe.

Steps on how to wash hands when visibly soiled (Duration of the entire procedure is 40-60 seconds):

When hands are visibly soiled, proper hand washing with soap and water is essential, and the procedure should take about 40–60 seconds. Begin by wetting the hands with clean, running water and applying enough soap to cover all surfaces. Rub the palms together, then rub the right palm over the back of the left hand and vice versa with fingers interlaced. Continue by rubbing palm to palm with fingers interlaced, followed by rubbing the backs of the fingers against the opposite palms with fingers interlocked. Each thumb should be cleaned using rotational rubbing clasped in the opposite palm. Next, rub the fingertips in a circular motion against the opposite palm to clean under the nails. Rinse the hands thoroughly with water, ensuring all soap is removed. Finally, dry the hands completely with a clean, disposable towel, and use the towel to turn off the tap to avoid recontamination. This complete procedure ensures effective removal of dirt, organic matter, and microorganisms.

Step 0 - Wet hands with water.

Step 1- Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces.

Step 2 - Rub hands palm against palm.

Step 3 - Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa.

Step 4 - Palm against palm with fingers interlaced.

Step 5 - Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.

Step 6 - Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa.

Step 7- Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards, with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm

 and vice versa.

Step 8 - Rinse hands with water.

Step 9 - Dry hands thoroughly with a single use towel.

Step 10 - Use towel to turn off faucet; your hands are now safe.