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: Teachers Nursing PA Athletic Trainers Dietetics OT/PT Speech 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: Blood Sexual Fluids Sharing 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.
Hepatitis Symptoms Short Term: Long Term: Lost of appetite Fatigue Diarrhea and vomiting Pain in muscles, joints, and stomach Jaundice Liver damage (cirrhosis) Liver cancer Death * After exposure, it can take 1-9 months before symptoms become noticeable.
HBV Prevention: Hep B vaccine People should get 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine. When 1 st Dose 2 nd Dose 3 rd 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 PREVENTION Safe Sex or Abstinence Universal Precautions HBV PREVENTION Vaccination 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 disease Pleural fluid Urine Sexual fluid Peritoneal fluid Cerebrospinal fluid Saliva Breast milk Amniotic Fluid Mucus Pus
Portals of Entry How 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 Exposure Direct touching body fluids from an infected person Indirect touching objects that have touched body fluids of an infected person Vector Obtaining a bite from an infected animal or person Airborne breathing in droplets when infected person coughs or sneezes
Barriers Used 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 gloves Inspect for tears Wash hands Do not reuse Change gloves between people Avoid 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 of serious 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 minutes on 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 If you are assisting a person who is BLEEDING: 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.
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)
Basic Guidelines for Handling Blood Other body fluids need to be handled with the same caution!
TEST Click on the following link & complete the exam: https://websurvey.jmu.edu/ss/wsb.dll/51/up test.htm