Training should also stress preventing further spread of contamination while wearing PPE by: Hand hygiene is always the final step after removing and disposing of PPE. Use of mouth, nose, and eye protection during procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood or other body fluids.ĭHCP should be trained to select and put on appropriate PPE and remove PPE so that the chance for skin or clothing contamination is reduced.Use of protective clothing to protect skin and clothing during procedures or activities where contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated.Use of gloves in situations involving possible contact with blood or body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or with dermatitis) or OPIM.Examples of appropriate use of PPE for adherence to Standard Precautions include. These include gloves, face masks, protective eye wear, face shields, and protective clothing (e.g., reusable or disposable gown, jacket, laboratory coat). PPE that is appropriate for various types of patient interactions and effectively covers personal clothing and skin likely to be soiled with blood, saliva, or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) should be available. Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to wearable equipment that is designed to protect DHCP from exposure to or contact with infectious agents. Complete guidance on how and when hand hygiene should be performed, including recommendations regarding surgical hand antisepsis and artificial nails can be found in the Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings. For all types of hand hygiene products, follow the product manufacturer’s label for instructions. For surgical procedures, 1 perform a surgical hand scrub before putting on sterile surgeon’s gloves. Although alcohol-based hand rubs are effective for hand hygiene in health care settings, soap and water should be used when hands are visibly soiled (e.g., dirt, blood, body fluids). Education and training programs should thoroughly address indications and techniques for hand hygiene practices before performing routine and oral surgical procedures.įor routine dental examinations and nonsurgical procedures, use water and plain soap (hand washing) or antimicrobial soap (hand antisepsis) specific for health care settings or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand hygiene is the most important measure to prevent the spread of infections among patients and DHCP. To the extent possible, this includes rescheduling non-urgent dental care until the patient is no longer infectious or referral to a dental setting with appropriate infection prevention precautions when urgent dental treatment is needed. Nonetheless, DHCP should develop and carry out systems for early detection and management of potentially infectious patients at initial points of entry to the dental setting. Patients, however, do not usually seek routine dental outpatient care when acutely ill with diseases requiring Transmission-Based Precautions. Dental settings are not typically designed to carry out all of the Transmission-Based Precautions (e.g., Airborne Precautions for patients with suspected tuberculosis, measles, or chickenpox) that are recommended for hospital and other ambulatory care settings. This second tier of infection prevention is used when patients have diseases that can spread through contact, droplet or airborne routes (e.g., skin contact, sneezing, coughing) and are always used in addition to Standard Precautions. When Standard Precautions alone cannot prevent transmission, they are supplemented with Transmission-Based Precautions. Education and training are critical elements of Standard Precautions, because they help DHCP make appropriate decisions and comply with recommended practices.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |