Infection Control
The following is an outline of the infection control recommendations concerning body substances, isolation, and “occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens.” Transmission can occur when blood or other potentially infectious body fluids are in contact with mucous membranes (eye, mouth, nose) or broken skin (cuts, rash, dry skin). Body fluids recognized by the Centers for Disease Control to which body substance isolation recommendations apply include: blood, semen, blood products, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid (fluid within the joints), pericardial fluid (fluid around the heart), amniotic fluid (fluid within the uterus of a pregnant woman), feces, urine, wound drainage, oral secretions (these are the ones you may deal with the most).
MODES OF TRANSMISSION OF BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS:
- Accidental injury by a sharp object that is contaminated with infectious material – NEEDLES, BROKEN GLASS, ANYTHING THAT CAN PIERCE, PUNCTURE OR CUT YOUR SKIN.
- Exposure of open cuts, skin abrasions, or dermatitis to potentially infectious materials, as well as mucous membrane exposure of the mouth, eyes, or nose.
- Indirect exposure by touching a contaminated object or surface and then transferring the infectious material to your mouth, eyes, nose or open skin.
HANDWASHING
Hands should always be washed using an anti-bacterial soap. You should wash your hands under running water for at least 30 seconds, with the hands facing down under the water to wash the bacteria away. Hands should be washed before and after all consumer contacts, before eating, drinking, smoking, changing your contact lenses and after using the toilet facilities. Yes, you still need to wash your hands even though you wear gloves. Gloves should be worn at all times when conducting bowel programs and changing catheters.
INFECTIOUS WASTE
Infectious waste includes: liquid or semi-liquid blood or their potentially infectious material; items contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material which would release these substances in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these material during handling; and all pathological and microbiological materials.
HEPATITIS VACCINATION
The hepatitis vaccination is a noninfectious, recombinant engineered, yeast-derived vaccine given in three intra-muscular injections in the arm.
The danger of hepatitis is very real, but the danger of being infected with this virus can be prevented or minimized through the utilization of appropriate precautions as suggested above as well as receiving the hepatitis vaccination.
This vaccine is available at your nearest County Health Department.