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Attitude And Practice Of Standard Precautions Among Healthcare Workers
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1.6.1 HAND HYGIENE:
Hand
washing is the most important element of SP measures. This concept
includes hand washing with soap (plain or antiseptic soap) and water or
rubbing hands by using alcohol-based products without using water.
Hand hygiene is recommended in following situations (WHO, 2013):
i.After direct contact with patients
ii.Before direct contact with patients.
iii.After exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin, and contaminated items.
iv.After contact with patients surrounding
v.Before doing aseptic tasks like using an invasive device.
1.6. 2 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTS (PPE):
The
second part in the SP is PPE. It is defined as a group of barriers that
are used alone, or in combination, to prevent transmission of
infectious agents to mucous membrane, skin, airways and clothing of
nurses when they are in contact with infectious agents. It is also used
when contamination or splashing with blood or body fluids is anticipated
and it is important to protect nurses from getting infections during
contact with patients. This PPE should be found in each hospital, and
the selection of this PPE is dependent on the nature of procedures,
skills of nurses, nature of patients and mode of transmission. PPE
includes the following: disposable gloves, face protection (masks,
safety glasses, goggles) and gowns or aprons ) (Vaz et al., 2010; WHO,
2012).
GLOVES
Gloves are used while dealing with or touching
blood, secretion, body fluids, execration, impaired membranes and mucous
membranes, handling contaminated equipment and when in contact directly
with patients who are infected with disease transmitted by direct
contact. After removing them, hand hygiene should be done. In addition
to this, nurses must know that gloves have to be changed if there was
risk of cross contamination when dealing with the same patient and
before going to another patient to prevent transmission of infections
and prevent the occurrence of HAI (WHO, 2010). Removal of gloves has to
be considered.
ISOLATION GOWN
This is worn to protect the clothes
and skin of nurses from contact and contamination with blood or body
fluid. The gown covers the body from neck to mid-thigh or below to
prevent contamination of skin or clothe (WHO, 2010). Removal of gown has
to be considered.
FACE PROTECTION (MASK,GOGGLES AND FACE SHIELD)
MASK:
This
must be used when there is a possibility for splashing or spraying of
blood or body substances,and when nurses are doing procedures requiring
sterile condition to prevent transmission of infection or infectious
agents to patients. In addition to this, sometimes patients must wear
mask especially if patient is suffering from coughing to limit spreading
of his or her infection (CDC, 2010; WHO, 2012; WHO, 2013). Mask must be
removed in a correct way as described in Figure 1.
GOGGLES:
Infectious
agents can enter body from mucous membrane in eyes, by direct route
through exposure to infectious agents from splash of blood or from
cough, or by an indirect way through touching of the eye by contaminated
hands. Many types of infectious agents are transmitted in this way
including both viruses (for example, adenovirus) and bacteria (for
example, hepatitis C) (CDC, 2010).
FACE SHIELD
Face protection can
be used with other PPE if there is potential splashing of blood, body
and respiratory secretions. Face shield can be worn as an alternative to
goggles but face shield covers more face area than goggles which covers
only the eyes (CDC, 2010).Like other PPE, caution must be taken when
removing face protection, taking into account its removal after removing
gloves.
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