What are Standard Precautions?

Controlling the spread of infections in a health care setting is extremely important, for many sick people are treated and care for in confined spaces. This means there are many microorganisms present. Patients will come in contact with members of the staff who can potentially spread the microorganisms and infections between patients.

To prevent this from occurring staff members must follow good hygiene principles and other Standard Precautions.

Standard Precautions are work practices that are required for the basic level of infection control. In most cases you cannot tell who is infected with a disease or the person may be infected but have not yet developed any signs or symptoms. Some diseases can take several months before someone show signs of sickness, however they still can be infectious.

List of Standard Precautions

• Good Hygiene Practice
• Frequent. Hand washing
• The appropriate use of gloves
• The use of other personal protective equipment, such as eye protection, masks, aprons and overalls.
• The safe use and disposal of sharp instruments, such as needles and syringes.
• The use of disposable equipment where applicable and available
• Correct cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of non-disposable equipment
• Safe collection, storage and disposable of waste
• The appropriate use of cleaning agents
• Protocols for preventing and managing occupational exposures to blood or body substances