Standard Precautions

  • Practices and personal protective equipment designed to prevent healthcare workers from transmitting infections to themselves or to other patients within healthcare settings
    • Combines major features of Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation
    • Based on the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents
    • Applies to all patients in all healthcare settings, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status
  • Also applicable when caring for externally and/or internally contaminated radiation event victims
    • Standard precautions provide healthcare workers working in post-decontamination areas of the hospital with adequate protection against potential contamination of themselves and others
    • NOTE: Some radiological materials are excreted in sweat
  • Practices most relevant to the care of externally and/or internally contaminated radiation event victims include
    • Use of gloves, gown, eye protection or face shield, and appropriate respiratory protection (based on the anticipated level of healthcare worker-patient interaction)
    • Safe handling of equipment or other items likely to have been contaminated with body fluids in a manner that prevents transmission of radiological material to the healthcare workers or to other patients
  • Proper application depends on
    • The nature of the healthcare worker-patient interaction
    • The extent of anticipated contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions
  • Includes education and training on principles and rationale for recommended practices
    • Facilitates appropriate decision-making and future adherence
  • Standard precautions (plus reverse isolation practices and procedures) should be used by healthcare workers caring for neutropenic radiation victims
References:
  1. Standard Precautions (HHS/CDC) [Detailed background information and recommendations concerning use of Standard Precautions.]
  2. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (PDF - 1.33 MB) (HHS/CDC) [Comprehensive guidance concerning use of Standard Precautions.]
  3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings (HHS/CDC)
  4. Guidance for the Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings (May 20, 2004) (PDF - 285 KB, PowerPoint - 1.46 MB) (HHS/CDC)
  5. Sequence for Donning and Removing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Poster (May 7, 2004) (PDF - 782 KB, PDF - 757 KB) (HHS/CDC)
  6. Garner JS. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. The Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1996 Jan;17(1):53-80. [PubMed Citation]
  7. Garner JS. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. Part I. Evolution of isolation practices, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Am J Infect Control. 1996 Feb;24(1):24-31. [PubMed Citation]
  8. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. Part II. Recommendations for isolation precautions in hospitals. Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Am J Infect Control. 1996 Feb;24(1):32-52. [PubMed Citation]

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