Standard Precautions
 Sometimes called “Universal”
precautions
 Used to break the chain of infection
 Pathogens spread by blood and
body fluids
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV)

OSHA passed regulations in 1991 requiring all
health care facility employers to:
- Determine which employees
will have exposure to blood
and body fluids
- Provide Hepatitis B vaccine
free to employees with
exposure risk (or signed
-
refusal)
Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such
as gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, and face shields
Provide adequate handwashing facilities and
supplies
Ensure clean & safe work environment
Follow decontamination protocol for contaminated
surfaces
Dispose of infectious wastes correctly
- No eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact
lenses, applying lip balm, etc. in risk area
Bioh
azard
Biohazard
- Provide color-coded containers labeled for sharps
and other infectious wastes
- Post signs in work areas where this is exposure risk
- Provide medical evaluation & follow-up for
employees who’ve had an exposure incident
- Provide training about the regulations to all
employees at no cost during working hours
Standard precautions rules are developed by the
CDC and FDA.
1. All body fluids should be considered
potentially infectious
2. All patients should be considered potential
sources of infection
3. Wash hands before and after any patient
4. If any surface comes in contact with blood
or body fluids, wash immediately and
thoroughly
5. Wash hands after removal of gloves
6. Wear gloves whenever contact with blood or
body fluids is possible
7. Change gloves after contact with each
patient
8. Gloves should not be reused
9. Gowns should be worn during any
procedure with risk of splashing blood or
body fluids
10. Masks and protective
eyewear to be worn during
procedures that may
produce blood or body
fluids
11. Extreme care should be taken while
handling sharp objects. (Do not bend, break
or recap needles. Dispose of them in
puncture-resistant containers.)
12. Spills or splashes of blood
or body fluids should be wiped
up immediately. Wear gloves,
and use a disinfectant solution.
13. Mouthpieces or resuscitation devices should
be used to avoid the need for mouth-tomouth resuscitation.
14. Know the requirements for disposal of
waste materials and dispose of wastes in the
proper container.
15. Report any cut, injury, needle stick, or
splashing of blood or body fluids
immediately.
Sterilizing with an Autoclave
 Uses steam under pressure or gas
 Destroys ALL microbes, pathogenic
and nonpathogenic – including
spores & viruses
 Before wrapping, instruments must
be clean
 Wraps must allow for penetration of steam
- Muslin
- Autoclave paper
- Special plastic or paper bags
- Autoclave containers
 Indicators are used to ensure articles have been
sterilized
- Autoclave tape, sensitivity marks on bags or
wraps, indicator capsules
- Indicator will change appearance when sterile
 Autoclave must be loaded correctly
 Amount of time depends on the article to be
sterilized – usually 15 – 30 minutes
 If wrap becomes torn or wet, it is contaminated
 Expires in 30 days
Disinfection
 Chemicals frequently used for aseptic control
 They do not kill spores & viruses so it’s not
sterilization
 Used to disinfect instruments that don’t penetrate
body tissue:
- dental instruments
- percussion hammers
- thermometers
 Examples:
- 90% isopropyl alcohol
- formaldehyde-alcohol
- 10% bleach solution
- Lysol
- Zephiran
 Boiling water disinfects but does not sterilize
 Satisfactory for home care where
instruments/supplies used for one person only
 Usually 15-30 minutes
 Ultrasonic unit – used in dental & medical offices
to disinfect
 Uses sound waves to produce millions of
microscopic bubbles
 Cavitation – bubbles hit instrument and explode,
driving cleaning solution into article
Sterile Technique - Principles
 Surgical Asepsis – procedures that keep an object
or area free from living organisms
 Sterile – free from all organisms, including spores
and viruses
 Contaminated – organisms/pathogens are present
 A clean, uncluttered work area necessary when
working with sterile supplies
 Sterile field – sterile area – never reach across a
sterile field – reach in from the side
 Never turn your back on a sterile field
 2-inch border of sterile field is considered
contaminated
 Common techniques:
- Drop technique
- Mitten technique
- Transfer forceps
 Keep sterile field dry (pathogens travel through
wet) and be careful when pouring fluids
 Be sure sterile field is open and ready before
putting on sterile gloves
 Sterile gloves are contaminated on the inside –
once on, keep hands away from body and above
waist
 When in doubt, consider it contaminated
Opening Sterile Packages
 Check to be sure the sterile package has not
expired
 Open the distal end and pull it away from you,
reaching around the package, not across
 Open the sides without touching the inside wrapper
 Pull the bottom down toward you
 Drop technique
 Mitten technique
Transfer