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Universal Precautions for Healthcare Profession

Universal precautions are a set of practices adopted by health care professions that aim to avoid any contact with a patient's bodily fluids. The aim of universal precautions is to prevent the spread of diseases and infections transmitted in blood or other bodily fluids, or airborne pathogens. Medical professionals use standard precautions, which are greater in scope than universal precautions, with patients known to have infectious conditions, or when they suspect such a condition.

  1. When Universal Precautions Apply

    • The health care workers must take universal precautions whenever there is a possibility of coming into contact with blood or other infectious bodily fluids and materials. Potentially infectious fluids include semen, cerebrospinal fluid, vaginal secretions, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, pleural fluid, synovial fluid, pericardial fluid, saliva in dental procedures (because it is likely to contain blood), or any bodily fluid contaminated with blood. Additionally, workers take universal precautions in any situation where it is difficult to differentiate between blood and other bodily fluids.

    Hygiene

    • Good personal hygiene on the part of the health care professional is an essential part of universal precautions. Guidelines for universal precautions stipulate the worker must wash her hands at the beginning of each shift, and between so-called dirty and clean procedures on the same patient. She must wash her hands between contact with different patients, and immediately after contact with any potential source of contamination. Examples include after using the bathroom, smoking, drinking, eating, or applying makeup and cosmetics. Hand hygiene may use soap and water, or a waterless gel.

    Barriers

    • Personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye shields, masks and protective gowns are a requirement under universal precautions in any situation with potential exposure to a patient's bodily fluids. Regulations require gloves whenever the health care worker's hands may have exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Examples include procedures involving a patient's blood vessels, such as starting an IV or drawing blood (phlebotomy). Procedures that anticipate splashing of blood or other fluids require the wearing of gowns or disposable plastic aprons. Such situations also require masks, face shields, and protective eyewear. In the case of a patient with diagnosed or suspected tuberculosis, rules require the health care worker to wear a TB respirator mask as a barrier against infection.

    Sharps Handling

    • Proper handling and disposal of sharps is a crucial component of universal precautions. Workers should discard disposable sharps and used syringes immediately after use in a designated, puncture resistant sharps container. Health care professionals should not overfill containers and avoid recapping or manipulating needles after use with a patient.

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