DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

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INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES

A. GENERAL
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION
means that all patients shall be assumed infected with HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne pathogens
Universal precaution shall be observed to prevent contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials
This refers to the practice in medicine of:
1. Avoiding contact with the patients bodily fluids by means of wearing nonporous articles such as medical
gloves, goggles and face shields
2. Medical instruments, especially scalpel and hypodermic needles, should be handled carefully and disposed
of properly in a sharps container
3. Proper handwashing
4. Considering all patients infectious
Universal precautions should be practiced in any environment where workers are exposed to bodily fluids, such
as
Blood
Semen
Vaginal secretions
Synovial fluid
Amniotic fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Pleural fluid
Peritoneal fluid
Pericardial fluid
Bodily fluids that do not require such precaution include:
Feces
Nasal secretions
urine
vomitus
sweat
sputum
saliva (if not contaminated by blood)
STANDARD PRECAUTION
Synthesize the major features of universal precautions (blood and body fluid precautions were designed to
reduce the risk transmission of blood-borne pathogens).
Standard precautions apply to all patients receiving care in hospitals, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed
infection status.
Standard precautions apply to:
1. All body fluids, secretions/excretions, regardless of whether or not visible blood is present
2. Non-intact skin
3. Mucous membrane
Standard precautions are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized
and unrecognized sources of infection in hospitals
B. ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROL
1. Employees shall wash their hands as soon as possible after removal of gloves or other personal protective
equipment and after hand contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
2. All personal protective equipment shall be removed immediately upon leaving the work area or as soon as
possible if the work is overtly contaminated. Personal protective equipment must be placed in an appropriately
designated area or container for storage, washing, decontamination or disposal.
3. Used needles and other sharps shall not be sheared, bent, broken, recapped, or re-sheated by hand. Used
needles should not be removed from disposable syringes.

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4. Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, or handlish contact lenses are prohibited in work
areas where there is potential occupational exposure.
5. Food and drinks should not be stored in refrigerators, freezers, or cabinets where blood or other potentially
infectious materials are stored or in other areas of possible contamination.
6. All procedures involving blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be performed in such a manner as to
minimize splashing, spraying, and aerosolization.
7. Mouth pipetting/suctioning must be prohibited.
Suggested control measures for primary care clinics in the community setting must emphasize the used of
barrier apparel, personal hygiene, and environmental cleaning, in addition to universal precautions.
Masking
Handwashing
Gloving
Gowning
Eye protection (goggles)
Environmental disinfection -70% R-OH, diluted household bleach
LEVELS OF PREVENTION
LEVEL

DESCRIPTION

ACTIVITIES

PRIMARY

Health education and Health

promotion
Focused on keeping the healthy in
a healthy state
Prevention of the initial occurrence
of disease or injury
Upstream approaches looks to
the actual cause of a disease

Immunization
family planning
retirement planning
well-child care
smoking cessation
hygiene teaching
fluoride supplements
fitness classes
alcohol and drug prevention
seatbelts and child car restraints
environmental protection
regular exercise
Healthy diet

Early identification of disease or

disability with prompt intervention to
prevent or limit disability
Problem has already occurred
Effort to thwart the damages of a
disease before it causes permanent
changes that cannot be undone

Physical assessments
hypertension screening
developmental screening
breast and testicular self examinations
hearing and vision screening
mammography
pregnancy testing

Assistance (after disease or

disability has occurred) to halt
further disease progress and to
meet
ones
potential
and
maximize quality of life despite
illness or injury
Person suffers from a disease
already
Effort to prevent ending their life

Teaching
and
counseling
regarding
lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise
stress
management
and
home
management after diagnosis of chronic
illness
support groups
support for caretaker
Meals on Wheels for homebound
physical therapy after stroke or accident
mental health counseling for rape victims

SECONDARY

TERTIARY

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ISOLATION
is the separation of patients with communicable diseases from others so as to prevent or reduce transmission of
infectious agents directly or indirectly.
Also refers to the precautions taken in hospitals to prevent the spread of an infectious agent from an infected or
colonized patient to susceptible persons.
PURPOSE:
Confine infectious agent
Seven Categories Recommended in Isolation
1. STRICT ISOLATION to prevent highly contagious or virulent infections
o Hand washing
o Discard contaminated article
o Use protective barriers (mask, goggles, gowns)
o Negative pressure (TB)
2. CONTACT ISOLATION to prevent infections that are spread primarily by close or direct contact
3. RESPIRATORY ISOLATION to prevent transmission of infectious disease over short distances through the
air
4. TB ISOLATION for TB patients with positive smears or with chest x-rays which strongly distances through
the air
5. ENTERIC ISOLATION for infections that are spread through direct contact with feces
6. DRAINAGE / SECRETION PRECAUTION to prevent infections that are transmitted by direct or indirect
contact with purulent materials or drainage from an infected body site
7. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION applied when handling blood and body fluids