Standard Precautions

The Standard Precautions healthcare workers must use when caring for all patients will prevent most healthcare workers from being exposed to disease.‘Standard Precautions’ was developed by the CDC to address the concerns of all who work in the healthcare field.All patients are treated the same, regardless of whether or not they have a serious infection or are friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family.Every patient is treated as if his/her blood and body fluids are infectious.

Barriers are worn if contact with a body fluid (e.g., blood, sputum, urine, stool, sweat, etc.) is anticipated.The correct barrier depends on the task the healthcare worker is going to perform, for example, drawing blood will place the tech or nurse at risk of exposure to blood/body fluid so gloves must be worn (state and federal law). Use of the barrier is also determined by the patient’s actions or condition, for example if the patient is vomiting, the nurse must wear at least gloves to clean up the spilled fluids.Barriers to choose from include: gloves, plastic gowns, masks, plastic eye shields, goggles, shoe covers, etc.

Additional Isolation Types

Standard Precautions is used for all persons but additional precautions may be used when certain infectious diseases are known or suspected, such as tuberculosis (TB), measles, chickenpox, or mumps.These germs are spread through the air.Persons with these diseases are usually placed in ‘Airborne’ or ‘Respiratory Isolation’.This involves the use of a mask before entering the patient’s room, the door is closed, and a warning sign is placed on the door.

'Droplet Precautions' is used for diseases spread through the air but are only on the moist droplets sprayed out from a person's mouth when they talk, sneeze, or cough.An example of this is the flu or influenza.A sign is placed on the door and a regular mask is worn when within 3 feet of the patient.Moist droplets only spray out about 1 ½ feet from the person's mouth.For this reason, the door may remain open.The patient should be in a private room but could be placed in a semi-private provided the other patient has the exact same illness.

‘Contact Precautions’ is used for diseases spread by hand-to-hand contact such as lice, scabies, or when a patient has a wound infection (where we know a lot of bacteria are present).A sign is placed on the door to warn the person entering to use gloves and good handwashing.Additional covers may be worn over the clothes depending on the procedure being done.

‘Protective Isolation’ is used when we need to protect the patient from our germs (from our hands, nose, and mouth).The patient usually has a very low immunity and has a decreased ability to fight off infection.Commonly this is seen in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy.In most cases handwashing is sufficient but masks and gloves may be added.The sign on the door will indicate what precautions need to be used.

Common Sense

Infection Control is just good common sense and consideration.Before visiting a person in the hospital, make sure you have no contagious illnesses and wash your hands before touching or caring for him/her.For more information about infection prevention or infectious diseases contact the Infection Control Department at (270) 575-2506.

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