Infection Prevention Manual

EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN secretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, blood-soiled items or bodily fluid, soiled items, contaminated surfaces, and sterile body areas, and during instrument cleaning and decontamination procedures; Discarding gloves used following treatment of a patient and changing to new gloves if torn or damaged during treatment of a patient and washing hands prior to performing services for another patient; and washing hands and other skin surfaces immediately if contaminated with blood or other body fluids; Wearing of appropriate masks, gowns or aprons, and protective eyewear or chin-length plastic face shields whenever splashing or spattering of blood or other body fluids is likely to occur; Sterilizing equipment and devices that enter the patient's vascular system or other normally sterile areas of the body; Sterilizing equipment and devices that touch intact mucous membranes but do not penetrate the patient's body, or using high-level disinfection for equipment and devices that cannot be sterilized prior to use for a patient; Using appropriate agents, including but not limited to detergents for cleaning all equipment and devices prior to sterilization or disinfection; Cleaning, by use of appropriate agents, including but not limited to detergents, equipment and devices that do not touch the patient or that only touch the intact skin of the patient; Adequately monitoring the performance of all personnel, licensed or unlicensed, for whom the licensee is responsible regarding infection control techniques; Placing disposable used syringes, needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp instruments in appropriate puncture-resistant containers for disposal; Maintaining appropriate ventilation devices to minimize the need for emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; Refraining from all direct patient care and handling of patient care equipment when the healthcare professional has exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis and the condition has not been medically evaluated and determined to be safe, or capable of being safely protected against, in providing direct patient care or in handling patient care equipment; Placing all specimens of blood and body fluids in well-constructed containers with secure lids to prevent leaking; and cleaning any spill of blood or other body fluid with an appropriate detergent and appropriate chemical germicide. Failing to use these techniques not only jeopardizes the health and safety of patients and other healthcare staff, but may constitute unprofessional conduct and/or be in violation of Agency policies and local, state, or federal regulations.