Infection risk
Contents
1. Standard precautions must be observed
Many people handling infectious material are not observing the proper safety precautions.
A study of W.A. hospitals by medical students found many health care workers do not take appropriate safety measures against blood-borne diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
The study found many people were deciding for themselves what precautions to take, not adhering to standard precautions. The study revealed an alarmingly high rate of hypodermic needle injuries and other hazards that could lead to infection of health care workers. Many such injuries went unreported. The study was carried out by fifth year medical students from the University of Western Australia.
Health care workers who are regularly exposed to blood and body fluids are most at risk. They include but are not limited to surgeons, doctors, dentists, dental assistants, nurses, operating theatre staff, laboratory staff, orderlies, ambulance officers and such trainee health care workers as medical students.
Both the State Infection Control Advisory Committee (SICAC) and the AIDS Task Force (ATF) have stressed that standard precautions must be followed, or employees may be placed at risk.
Workplaces should develop safe work procedures using standard precautions adequate to protect employees in the course of their work. Areas of concentrated risk such as emergency departments may require special work systems to ensure that employees remain adequately protected.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act gives employers a "general duty of care" to provide for the safety and health of their employees. Employees are required to take care of safety and health for themselves and for others.
Further information on standard precautions is available in the National Code of Practice for the Control of Work-related Exposure to Hepatitis and HIV (Blood-borne) Viruses [NOHSC:2010 (2003)] Copies of this code can be downloaded from the Safe Work Australia website
2. Standard precautions
"Universal Precautions" is the international term used by the medical industry to describe the set of measures introduced to allow medical staff to safely handle material that may carry blood or body fluids infected with diseases. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has recommended the term "universal precautions" be substituted with "standard precautions" as the basic risk minimisation strategy.
Health care workers should presume that the blood and body fluids of all persons being treated could potentially be a source of infection. Additional precautions may be required in areas of high risk.
Universal precautions are designed to prevent infection from inoculation, contact with mucous membranes such as the mouth or eye, or through skin damage such as cuts.
The main principles of universal precautions are washing hands, care of intact skin, protection of damaged skin, proper handling and disposal of sharp objects, good hygiene practices, and careful handling of all blood and body fluids.
Personal protection must be provided and available in all areas where blood and body fluids may come into contact with personnel. Gloves, waterproof aprons or gowns, and masks or protective eye wear must be worn where appropriate. Workers with cuts or abrasions on exposed body parts must cover these with waterproof dressings.
Worker education and training in preventative measures should be carried out and safe work procedures developed for all activities having the potential for exposure.
Source: Updated from an article in SafetyLine No. 19, August 1993.