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<br />UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS <br /> <br />The UNIVERSAL PROCAUTIONS, published by the Centers for Disease Control <br />(COC), are a set of guidelines which health workers (including PSWs) should <br />employ consistently with all patients/clients, in order to prevent parenteral, <br />mucous membrane, and non-intact skin exposure to blood borne pathogens. <br /> <br />The following Universal Precautions have been abstracted for their specific <br />relevance to PSWs. <br /> <br />1. <br /> <br />Needle stick injuries: <br />Take care to prevent injuries when using needles, scalpels, and other <br />sharp instruments or devices: a) when handling sharp instruments after <br />procedures; b) when cleaning used instruments; c) when disposing of <br />used needles <br />*00 not recap used needles by hand; do not bend, break, or otherwise <br />manipulate used needles by hand <br />*Locate these containers as close to the area as is practical. <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />Gloves and other protective barriers: <br />Use protective barriers to prevent exposure to blood/body fluids to which <br />Universal Precautions apply. The types of protective barriers used should <br />be appropriate for the procedures being performed and the type of <br />exposure anticipated. <br /> <br />3. <br /> <br />Hand Washing: <br />Immediately and thoroughly wash hands and other skin surfaces that are <br />contaminated with blood/body fluids containing visible blood or other body <br />fluids to which Universal Precautions apply. <br /> <br />4. <br /> <br />Health Problems: <br />Health care workers who have weeping dermatitis or draining lesions <br />should refrain from all direct patient/client care and from handling patient- <br />care equipment until the condition has cleared. <br /> <br />5. <br /> <br />Pregnancy: <br />Pregnant health care workers are not known to be at greater risk of <br />contracting HIV infection than non-pregnant health care workers. <br />However, they should be especially familiar with, and strictly adhere to, <br />precautions to minimize this risk. <br /> <br />Excerpted from, "CDC Update: Universal Precautions for prevention of <br />transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and <br />other blood borne pathogens in health-care settings." Morbidity and <br />Mortality Weekly Report, June 24,1988; 37 (24): 377-78 <br />