Universal Precautions

In
Infection Prevention

DR POONAM VARMA SHIVKUMAR

PROF AND HEAD , DEPT OF OBGY
MGIMS SEVAGRAM, WARDHA M.S.

Infection Prevention

Session Objectives
To discuss essential elements of
universal precautions for infection
prevention in emergency obstetric care
To discuss best universal precaution
practices in emergency obstetric care
Infection Prevention

Universal Precautions in
Infection Prevention:
Objectives

To prevent major infections when providing services

To minimize the risk of transmitting serious
infections (e.g., hepatitis B and C and HIV) from or
to:
Clients
Healthcare providers
Other staff, including cleaning and housekeeping
personnel

Infection Prevention

Basic Principles In Universal

Precautions
Consider every person (client or staff) potentially infectious
Wash hands, the most practical procedure for preventing cross-

contamination (person to person)

Wear gloves before touching:
Anything wet
Broken skin
Mucous membranes
Blood or other body fluids (secretions or excretions)

Soiled instruments and other items

Infection Prevention

Basic Principles In Universal

Precautions (continued)
Use physical barriers (protective goggles, face
masks and aprons) if splashes and spills of any
body fluids (secretions or excretions) are
anticipated
Use safe work practices:
Do not recap or bend needles
Pass sharp instruments safely
Dispose of medical waste properly
Infection Prevention

Basic Principles in Universal

Precautions (continued )
Isolate patients only if secretions (airborne) or
excretions (urine or feces) cannot be contained
Process instruments and other items using
recommended infection prevention practices

Infection Prevention

Handwashing
Handwashing may be the single most important
procedure in preventing infection
Wash hands:
Before and after examining any client (direct contact)
After removing gloves because gloves may have
holes in them
After exposure to blood or any body fluids
(secretions or excretions), even if gloves were worn
Infection Prevention

Routine Handwashing
Steps:
Use a plain or antiseptic soap
Vigorously rub lathered hands together for 10 to 15
seconds
Rinse with clean running water from a tap or bucket
Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry them

Infection Prevention

Protective Barriers
Wear gloves:
When performing a procedure in the clinic or
operating room
When handling soiled instruments, gloves and other
items
When disposing of contaminated waste items
(cotton, gauze or dressings)

Use a separate pair of gloves for each woman

to avoid cross contamination
Infection Prevention

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Protective Barriers (continued)

Wear protective goggles, face masks and

aprons:
During all childbirths
If splashes and spills of any body fluids are likely

Infection Prevention

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Handling Sharp Instruments and

Needles
Leave sharp instruments or needles only in
safe zones
Tell other workers before passing sharps
Use each needle and syringe only once
Do not recap, bend or break needles before
disposal
Dispose of needles and syringes in a punctureproof container
Infection Prevention

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Decontamination
Decontamination and cleaning Highly effective IP measures
Done by various methods
One looks for cost effective , easy and most rapidly acting
methods
0.5 % chlorine solution best items to be decontaminated are
placedin this solution for 10 minutes
Others 70% ethyl or Isopropyl alcohol or 0.5 - 3% phenolic
compound

Infection Prevention

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 How to prepare 0.5% Chlorine Solution ?

-

House hold liquid bleach 5% 9 parts of water + 1 part of bleach

Calcium Hypochloride solution (70%) -

7.1 g/l

Use plastic container as it prevents dulling of sharps /

rusting of instruments due to chemical reaction
( electrolysis )
Do not soak electroplated metal instruments in water for
more than an hour
After decontamination rinse with cool water
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Instrument Processing
Step 1 Decontamination
- Hypodermic needles and syringes
decontaminated put in puncture resistant sharp
container full burnt or buried
- Others kept for 10 mins
Step 2 Cleaning must -- water or soap water
Step3 Sterilization

High level disinfection

- Dry heat

- Boiling

- Moist heat

- Steaming
- Chemical

- Chemical
Step4 - Storage

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Safe Waste Disposal: Objectives

To prevent spread of infection to clinic
personnel who handle waste
To prevent spread of infection to local
community
To protect those who handle waste from
accidental injury
Infection Prevention

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Safe Waste Disposal: Practices

Wear utility gloves while handling contaminated waste
Place contaminated items (gauze or cotton) in
leakproof covered containers or plastic bag
Dispose of all sharp items in puncture-proof containers
Dispose of contaminated solid waste by incineration or
burial
Wash hands, gloves and containers after disposal of
infectious waste
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THANK A LOT

Infection Prevention

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