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HIV Universal Precautions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Universal precautions are "designed to prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other blood-borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care." Under universal precautions, all patients are treated equally with the assumption that all blood and certain body fluids may be infectious. The introduction of universal precautions reduced the need to isolate patients with HIV, HBV and other blood-born pathogens.

  1. Protective Barrier

    • A protective barrier such as gloves must be used.

      According to the CDC, universal precautions require caretakers to wear protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, aprons, masks or protective eye wear, which can reduce the risk of exposure of the health care worker's skin or mucous membranes to potentially infective materials. Most hospital gloves are made of latex. Do not use latex gloves if you have a latex allergy. Procure special latex-free gloves.

    Transmission

    • Universal precautions protect everyone.

      Moving from patient to patient makes it easy for doctors making rounds and nurses with a heavy patient load to spread infection. Removing gloves before leaving a patient's room is a good practice. When caring for several patients, take care to change gloves and wash hands thoroughly between patients. Good hand washing is the cornerstone of preventing infection. Many hospitals ban doctors or nurses from wearing protective gloves in the hallways.

    Contaminated Materials

    • Mark containers with biohazard stickers.

      Hospitals, nursing homes, skilled-care facilities and assisted-living facilities have bio-hazard waste materials. Such material must be collected, labeled and disposed of properly. Make sure you understand the proper method of disposing of contaminated material. Used needles, bandages, tubing and any other waste materials should be placed in bio-hazard containers that are properly labeled.

    Needles

    • Discarded needles must be disposed of in a properly labeled biohazard box.

      The CDC has strict guidelines for the disposal of needles and other sharp objects used in patient care. According to the CDC, "needles should not be recapped by hand, purposely bent or broken by hand, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated by hand. After they are used, disposable syringes and needles, scalpel blades and other sharp items should be placed in puncture-resistant containers for disposal." Containers for disposal called sharps boxes should be kept close to areas where needles and other items are in use.

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