Routine Infection Control Practices

Routine practices (RP) for infection control are the foundation for preventing transmission of infection in all settings. RP are based on the idea that a health professional does not always know when a person has an infectious disease. All people are treated as if they are infectious because microorganisms are always present on the skin, nose, throat, and in bodily fluids and can be transferred from one person to another.

The elements of RP include:

• hand hygiene,
• use of personal protective equipment, and
• respiratory etiquette.

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands, and is the most important practice to prevent the spread of infection.

• Hands must be washed with soap and water when visibly soiled. Use plain soap.
• Use an alcohol based hand rub for all other hand hygiene opportunities. Rub should contain between 60 to 90% alcohol to be effective.
• Do not top up a partially empty soap dispenser. If refillable dispensers are used, they must be emptied, washed, and dried prior to refilling.
• Hands must be washed or rubbed for a minimum of 15 seconds, making sure to cover all parts of the hands and fingers.

Hand hygiene should be performed:

• before direct, hands-on care with a patient,
• before touching open wounds or handling bandages,
• before preparing, handling, serving or eating food,
• before starting work and returning from breaks,
• before helping someone to eat, or
• any time hands feel or look dirty.

Hand hygiene should be performed after:

• contact with blood, bodily fluids or broken skin,
• removal of gloves,
• personal use of the toilet or wiping your nose,
• helping someone use the toilet or diaper changing,
• handling raw food, or
• touching contaminated surfaces.

Personal Protective Equipment

The type of personal protective equipment (PPE) chosen depends on the situation and what you are going to do with the patient i.e., take blood or change a dressing. The selection of gowns, gloves, masks, and face protection should take into consideration the chance of exposure to blood or other bodily fluids and excretions, and route of transmission (i.e., cough).

Gloves

Gloves are used as an additional measure to, but not a substitute for, hand hygiene. Put gloves on directly before the task or procedure you need to do if contact with blood and other body fluids, mucous membranes, or broken skin is likely. Wear gloves when handling items visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids.

Remove gloves immediately after completion of the task and perform hand hygiene. Do not wash or reuse single-use, disposable gloves.

Gowns

Gowns are used to protect uncovered skin and to prevent soiling of clothes during tasks likely to generate sprays of blood and other bodily fluids. Sleeves should be long enough to cover the wrist and have a cuff for snug fit. A moisture proof gown should be used when large volumes of blood and bodily fluids may be encountered.

Immediately remove the gown after completion of the task. Gowns must be worn once only and then disposed or laundered. Perform hand hygiene after removal.

Mask and Eye Protection

Regular procedure masks and eye protection are worn to protect the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth during activities that may generate splashes, sprays or aerosols of blood or other bodily fluids.

Masks and eye protection are worn within 2 metres (6 feet) of a coughing client. Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing masks or eye protection.

Prescription eyeglasses are not considered eye protection. They do not provide adequate protection from splashes or sprays. Eye protection should fit over prescription glasses.

Respiratory Etiquette

Simple steps you can take to minimize the spread of respiratory organisms:

• Cover your cough.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• Perform hand hygiene after coughing or sneezing.

• If you are coughing you may need to put on a mask to protect others.

Revised: 2011-11-23