ICC Guidelines on

Infection Control
Practices

Standard Precautions
Standard

precautions are a set of basic

infection prevention practices intended
to prevent spread of infectious diseases
from one person to another.

Because we do not always know if a

person has an infectious disease,
standard
precautions
are
applied
toevery person every timeto assure
that transmission of disease does not
occur. These precautions were formerly
known as universal precautions.

Standard Precautions
Hand

hygiene cleaning hands with soap and

wateroran alcohol-based hand rub to prevent
transmission of germs to others

Use soap and waterinstead ofan alcohol-based hand rub

in the following situations:
When hands are visibly dirty, contaminated, or soiled
After using the restroom
Before eating or preparing food
Perform hand hygiene before and after patient/resident
contact; after contact with objects or surfaces in the
patient immediate vicinity; and after removing gloves (if
worn).

Standard Precautions
Personal

protective equipment certain types

of clothing or equipment that a person wears to
protect his/her body from injury and infection
Face mask/face shield/eye protection (goggles)
Worn if contact with blood or body fluids may occur,
especially during suctioning and intubation.
Gloves
Worn if contact with blood, body fluids, mucous
membranes, non-intact skin, or contaminated items in the
patient/residents environment may occur.
Gown
Worn if contact with blood or body fluids may occur.

Standard Precautions
Patient/resident

Handle in a manner that prevents transfer of germs to

others and to the environment.
Wear gloves if equipment is visibly contaminated.
Perform hand hygiene.

Environmental

care of equipment

cleaning/disinfection

Develop procedures for routine care, cleaning, and

disinfection of environmental surfaces, especially
frequently touched surfaces in patient/resident-care
areas.

Standard Precautions
Patient/resident

Prioritize for placement in a single-patient/resident room

if the patient/resident is at increased risk of transmission,
is likely to contaminate the environment, does not
maintain appropriate hand hygiene, or is at increased risk
of acquiring infection or developing adverse outcome
following infection.

Handling

placement

of textiles/laundry

Handle in a manner that prevents transfer of

microorganisms to others and to the environment.

Standard Precautions
Safe

injection practices

Do not recap, bend, break, or hand-manipulate used

needles.
Use safety features when available.
Place used sharps in a puncture-resistant container.

Respiratory

hygiene/cough etiquette

Maintain spatial separation (at least 3 feet) or wear a

surgical mask, if the person is able to tolerate it.
Cover mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing.
Use tissues and promptly dispose of them in trash.
Perform hand hygiene after soiling hands with respiratory
secretions.

Transmission- Based Precaution

Contact precaution- Used for patients
that have an infection that can be spread
by contact with the persons skin, mucous
membranes, feces, vomit, urine, wound
drainage, or other body fluids, or by
contact with equipment or environmental
surfaces that may be contaminated by the
patient/residents or by his/her secretions
and excretions. Ex. Pediculosis,
scabies,Enteric infections like amoebiasis,
Typhoid fever and pressure ulcers.

Transmission- Based Precaution

Droplet precaution-Used for
patients/residents that have an infection
that can be spread through close respiratory
or mucous membrane contact with
respiratory secretions.
Examples of infections/conditions that
require droplet precautions:
Rabies,Meningococcemia, Mumps,German
Measles, Influenza

Transmission- Based Precaution

Airborne precaution-Used for
patients/residents that have an infection
that can be spread over long distances
when suspended in the air. These disease
particles are very small and require special
respiratory protection and room ventilation.
Examples of infections/conditions that
require airborne precautions: chickenpox,
measles, and tuberculosis.

Hepatitis B Problem
(Health Professionals)

68% of 243 dentists

infected
90% of dentists infected
after age 40
58% of surgeons have had
past infections
8% are still active
70% of med techs
50% of nurses