Universal Precautions Health Article

Definition

Universal precautions are safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA).

Purpose

These precautions are used in medical and dental offices to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases to patients and health care workers.

Description

Universal precautions are standards of infection control practices designed to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne infections.

Personal protective equipment

Protective equipment includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eyewear worn by health care workers to reduce the risk of exposure to potentially infectious materials.

Examination gloves are used for procedures involving contact with mucous membranes. They reduce the incidence of contamination to the hands, but they cannot prevent penetrating injuries from needles or other sharp instruments. Gloves are changed after each patient and discarded, and must never be washed or disinfected for reuse. Washing with surfactants may cause wicking (the enhanced penetration of liquids through undetected holes in the glove). Disinfecting agents may cause deterioration of the gloves. Petroleum jelly may also break down latex. Utility gloves may be used when handling contaminated instruments and cleaning of the treatment area or sterilization room.

Fluid-resistant gowns, laboratory coats, or uniforms should be worn when clothing is likely to be soiled with blood or other bodily fluids. Reusable protective clothing should be washed separately from other clothes, using a normal laundry cycle. Protective clothing should be changed daily or as soon as visibly soiled. They should be removed before personnel leave areas of the dental office used for laboratory or patient-care activities.

Masks and protective eyewear, or chin-length, plastic face shields should be worn when splashing or spattering of blood or other body fluids is likely. A mask should be changed between patients or during patient treatment if it becomes wet or moist. A face shield or protective eyewear should be washed with appropriate cleaning agents when visibly soiled.

Careful handling and disposal of sharps

Sharp disposable items, such as needles, saliva ejectors, rubber prophy cups and scalpels that cannot be sterilized and are contaminated with blood or other body fluids need to be discarded in puncture resistant containers. Special delivery companies pick up the containers once they are full and replace them with empty containers.