What are Universal Precautions?

What are Universal Precautions?

Universal precautions protect healthcare workers, patients and the environment.

In a healthcare setting workers should take precautions with everybody to eliminate the need to make assumptions about people's lifestyles and how much of a risk they present. Health care workers should have the right to be able to protect themselves against infection, whether it is HIV, Hepatitis or other TTIs.

The following universal infection control precautions are advised by the World Health Organization¹²⁷ to help protect health care workers from blood-borne infections including HIV:

• Hand washing after direct contact with patients.
• Use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns aprons, masks, goggles for direct contact with blood and other body fluids.
• Safe collection and disposal of needles and sharps, with required puncture- and liquid- proof boxes in each patient care area.
• Preventing two-handed recapping of needles.
• Covering all cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing.
• Promptly and carefully cleaning up spills of blood and other body fluids.
• Using a safe system for health care waste management and disposal.

Appropriate waste disposal is essential to prevent used and potentially contaminated medical equipment being recycled. However, this is reliant on the necessary disposal facilities being in place. ¹²⁸ The use of sharps boxes for used needles prevents health workers from injuring themselves or re-using them. It also protects members of the public from exposure to needles, which can easily occur if medical waste is disposed of alongside normal refuse.

Post-exposure Prophylaxis

Research has shown that the use of antiretroviral drugs if given soon after an injury may reduce the risk of transmission. Such treatment is referred to as Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is recommended for health care workers if they have had a significant occupational exposure to blood or another high-risk body fluid that is likely to be infected with HIV.¹²⁹

Although exposure through needlestick injuries can usually be avoided by following good working practices, health care workers should consider the implications of taking PEP. This will help them to make a swift decision in the event of an accident where an injury occurs.