Universal Precautions

James Madison University

Brought to you by Office of Health Promotion,

JMU Health Center (2007)

Purpose of this Training

Teach the principles behind the prevention of disease transmission.

Enable individuals to respond to emergency situations in an informed and confident manner.

Reduce the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens.

Have you ever :come in contact with blood or other body fluid of another person?

had a tattoo or body piercing?

shared a razor, earrings, or toothbrush?

helped a child blow his or her nose?

helped a friend who was hurt or cleaned up vomit?

Are you sexually active?

YOU ARE ALL AT RISK!!!

Professions at risk for being exposed:

TeachersNursingPAAthletic TrainersDieteticsOT/PTSpeech Therapists

What is Universal Precautions?Universal Precautions is an

APPROACH TO INFECTION CONTROL

With this approach, all human blood and certain body fluids are treated as if they are infectious for . . .

* HIV* HBV* Other blood-borne pathogens

(bacteria & viruses that can cause disease in humans)

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Transmitted via:BloodSexual FluidsSharing Needles (accidental needle “stick”)Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breast-feeding

* There have been NO documented cases of HIV caused by sweat, saliva, tears, food (or sharing utensils), air (sneeze or cough) or casual contact (hugging, hand-holding.)

HIV Symptoms

Symptoms usually occur 2- 4 weeks after infection

Easy to overlook flu-like symptoms:fever, fatigue, rash

Long Term – (10-12 years)- AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

HBV Hepatitis B Virus

1/20 people in the U.S. will get Hepatitis B sometime in their life.

200,000 new HBV infections each year in U.S.

Approximately 1.25 million people in the U.S. have chronic HBV infection.

4,000-5,000 die each year from chronic HBV.

Lost of appetiteFatigueDiarrhea and vomitingPain in muscles, joints, and stomachJaundice

* After exposure, it can take 1-9 months before symptoms become noticeable.

Liver damage (cirrhosis)

Liver cancerDeath

Hepatitis SymptomsShort Term: Long Term:

HBV Prevention: Hep B vaccinePeople should get 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine.

When 1st Dose 2nd Dose 3rd Dose

Older child, adolescent, or adult

Any time 1-2 months after first dose

4-6 months after first dose

If you miss a dose or get behind schedule, get the next dose as soon as you can.

* There is no need to start over *

HIV PREVENTIONSafe Sex or Abstinence

Universal Precautions

HBV PREVENTIONVaccination

Universal Precautions

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS Why is it Important?

Practical information we all should know!

Enable you to give help without putting yourself at risk of getting a potentially life threatening disease.

You will know more about disease transmission.

* Knowledge = prevention of disease *

Which body fluids are infectious?

Almost ANY BODY FLUID has the ability to be contaminated with blood, which would make all body fluids potentially infectious.

Fluids that can transmit diseasePleural fluid

Sexual fluid

Saliva

Cerebrospinal fluid Mucus

Pus

Breast milkUrine

Peritoneal fluidAmniotic Fluid

Portals of EntryHow germs or pathogens can enter your body:

Open sores

Abrasions

Acne

Cuts and burns

Damaged or broken skin such as sunburn or blisters

Dry, chapped, cracked or peeling hands

Cat scratches and scrapes

Open or torn hangnails

Mucus membranes

Sexually transmitted

Types of ExposureDirect – touching body fluids from an infected personIndirect – touching objects that have touched body fluids of an infected personVector – Obtaining a bite from an infected animal or personAirborne – breathing in droplets when infected person coughs or sneezes

BarriersUsed to protect access areas from germs.

Place the barrier between the potentially INFECTIOUS BODY FLUID & YOU!

• Examples:

– Gloves

– Plastic wrap

– Wal-Mart bag

Gloves

Latex glovesInspect for tearsWash handsDo not reuseChange gloves between peopleAvoid handling personal items with gloves Never put your hand into a trash can or waste container without gloves

Masks / Face Shields

Other Personal Protective Equipment

Importance of HAND WASHING

TOUCHING another person or even a surface after coughing or sneezing can spread your cold.

Germs can be transmitted from UNCLEAN HANDS to food, another person, or a surface.

Germs transferred from someone changing the DIAPER of a child with diarrhea to another child or themselves.

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found:

Only 2/3 of American adults wash after using the toilet.* Women wash more often than men *

Fecal matter carries a variety ofserious infectious diseases.

1/4 adults do not wash after changing a babies diaper.

Fewer than half wash after handling pets.(an animal/insect which transmits disease is called a “vector”)

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found:

Just 1/3 wash after sneezing or coughing.

In one study, children who washed their hands four times a day missed 51% fewer school days due to upset stomach and 24% fewer days due to respiratory illness than those who washed less.

1/3 E.coli outbreaks is caused by poor personal hygiene (hand washing) by food handlers.

Not even 1/5 wash after handling money, a major carrier of disease germs.

Being SAFE!Avoid touching open wounds and cold sores.Personal hygiene, nail/cuticle/skin condition.Proper decontamination.

* HIV can live only for seconds to minuteson an inanimate surface!

* HBV can live from weeks to a month

on an inanimate surface!

Decontamination

Use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface so they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling use or disposal.

Basic Guidelines for Handling Blood

Control the bleeding by applying DIRECT PRESSURE to the wound with PAPER TOWELS, TISSUES, or other CLEAN DISPOSABLE TOWELS.

Provide a BARRIER between their BLOOD and YOUR SKIN with LATEX GLOVES or other PLASTIC MATERIAL.

Call 911 as may be appropriate.

If you are assisting a person who is BLEEDING:

Basic Guidelines for Handling Blood

When DISPOSING of any paper items with visible blood on them … USE APPROPRIATE BIOHAZARD WASTE BASKET.

Basic Guidelines for Handling Blood

To CLEAN UP BLOOD on objects or on the floor:

Lay paper towels on it to ABSORB as much as possible.

Then DISINFECT for 20 minutes with a BLEACH solution.(1 part bleach / 10 parts water)

Other body fluids need to be handled

with the same caution!

Basic Guidelines for Handling Blood

TESTClick on the following link & complete the

exam:

https://websurvey.jmu.edu/ss/wsb.dll/51/UP test.htm