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Appendix I The Universal Precautions
advocated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) have grown out of the dangers inherent in the handling of the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As more has been learned about the
transmission of pathogens from handling infectious materials, the rules have
been expanded to cover virtually all infectious materials, not just HIV. The
evolution of these rules can be traced through the following CDC documents: Recommendations for Prevention of
HIV Transmission in Health-Care Settings, MMWR 36(SU02);001,
8/21/1987. Perspectives in Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of
Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Other
Blood borne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings, MMWR 37(24); 377-388,
6/24/1998. Guidelines for Prevention of Transmission of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to Health-Care and Public-Safety
Workers, MMWR - Vol. 38, No. S-6, 6/23/1989. Universal Precautions for the
Prevention of Transmission of HIV and Other Bloodborne
Infections, Hospital Infections Program (URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/blood/universa.htm) These detailed instructions are
much more extensive than is normally applicable to elementary and secondary
educational institutions. Fortunately, NIH has prepared a very brief summary
that will suffice for almost all situations met in elementary and secondary
schools. This summary is presented here for your use. The detailed
instructions, if needed, are available on-line from the CDC site listed in
Appendix H. Universal Precautions: 1. Barrier
protection should be used at all times to prevent skin and mucous
membrane contamination with blood, body fluids containing visible blood, or
other body fluids (cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial,
and amniotic fluids, semen and vaginal secretions). Barrier
protection should be used with ALL tissues. The type
of barrier protection used should be appropriate for the type of procedures
being performed and the type of exposure anticipated. Examples of barrier
protection include disposable lab coats, gloves, and eye and face protection.
2. Gloves are to be worn
when there is potential for hand or skin contact with blood, other
potentially infectious materials, or items and surfaces contaminated with
these materials. 3. Wear face
protection (face shield) during procedures that are likely to generate
droplets of blood or body fluid to prevent exposure to mucous membranes of
the mouth, nose and eyes. 4. Wear protective
body clothing (disposable laboratory coats (Tyvek)) when there is a
potential for splashing of blood or body fluids. 5. Wash hands of
other skin surfaces throughly and immediately if
contaminated with blood, body fluids containing visible blood, or other body
fluids to which universal precautions apply. 6. Wash hands
immediately after gloves are removed. 7. Avoid accidental
injuries that can be caused by needles, scalpel blades, laboratory instruments,
etc. when performing procedures, cleaning instruments, handling sharp
instruments, and disposing of used needles, pipettes, etc. 8. Used needles,
disposable syringes, scalpel blades, pipettes, and other sharp items are
to be placed in puncture resistant containers marked with a biohazard
symbol for disposal. |
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