Every time caregivers work with patients in hospitals, clinics, or even at home, there's always a chance they could come into contact with harmful bacteria or viruses. This can lead to the unintentional spread of infections—not just among patients but also to colleagues, family members, and friends.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers extensive resources on effective strategies for preventing and managing infections in healthcare settings. Among these are the **Core Practices**, which have been extensively researched and proven to reduce the risks associated with infectious diseases, healthcare-related infections, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. These guidelines were most recently updated in November 2022.
One of the key components within these core practices is the implementation of **Standard Precautions**. These are essential, common-sense measures that should be followed during every patient interaction, regardless of the care setting. Below are some highlights from the CDC’s recommendations:
1. **Hand Hygiene**: Ensure there’s an ample supply of hand sanitizer or soap and water stations near entrances and exits, as well as inside patient rooms. Both healthcare providers and visitors should avoid unnecessary contact with surfaces in patient areas.
2. **Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)**: Gloves, gowns, and face shields should be easily accessible outside patient rooms. Providers should discard gloves and gowns after interacting with each patient and never reuse them for multiple patients.
3. **Cough Etiquette/Respiratory Hygiene**: Healthcare facilities should remind everyone to cover their mouths and noses (preferably with their elbows) when coughing or sneezing. Tissues, hand sanitizer, and no-touch trash bins should be readily available.
4. **Patient Placement Based on Risk Level**: Infection control protocols should begin upon the first interaction with the patient, whether in the ER, outpatient clinic, or long-term care facility. Initial precautions can later be adjusted based on a more thorough assessment of transmission risks.
5. **Equipment Handling and Disinfection**: All reusable medical equipment and devices used for patient care must be sanitized after each use.
6. **Environmental Cleaning**: Regular and deep cleaning procedures should include surfaces, equipment, laundry, and biohazard waste management using EPA-approved disinfectants.
7. **Injection Safety**: Never reuse needles, syringes, or IV tubing for multiple patients. Multidose vials should remain outside the patient treatment area.
Beyond standard precautions, **Transmission-Based Precautions** may be necessary when dealing with suspected or confirmed communicable diseases. These additional steps depend on the specific circumstances, such as the mode of transmission, the facility type, and the patient’s condition. Examples include:
- Isolating the patient in a single room or designated isolation space.
- Using appropriate PPE for all interactions with the patient.
- Limiting patient movement outside the isolation area unless medically necessary.
Leadership plays a critical role in ensuring infection prevention efforts succeed. If every staff member doesn’t strictly adhere to these protocols, the system won’t function effectively. Leadership must emphasize that infection control is a top priority. Organizations should regularly review their occupational health policies—such as immunization requirements, sick leave policies, and post-exposure protocols—to align with worker and patient safety goals. When executed properly, infection prevention programs save lives.
At Sri Trang, we’re committed to supporting your infection control initiatives. As a leading manufacturer of high-quality disposable medical gloves, we offer the Ventyv® brand of nitrile and latex gloves, ranging from exam gloves to surgical gloves and even those designed for chemotherapy use. Our diverse inventory ensures your infection prevention program runs seamlessly.
For more insights on infection prevention and control, check out our other blogs on this topic [here] and [here]. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest industry trends and innovations.
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