Login

Category: Standard Precautions

Topics

Storage of Sterile Goods

What Is It? Clinical supplies, including sterile items, must be stored and handled to maintain the integrity of packaging and prevent contamination from any source. All sterile items must be stored in a designated area and handled in accordance with legislation.  Any item found to be incorrectly wrapped, damaged, already opened,...

Safe Handling of Sharps

What Is It? The classification of sharps includes needles, scalpels, razor blades, stitch cutters, broken glass, auto lancets, IV cannula stilettes, and IV giving set spikes. Sharps injuries can occur in any healthcare setting, including home healthcare and long-term care facilities. Injuries most often occur During the use of a sharp...

Reprocessing of Medical Instruments and Equipment

What Is It? Generally, residential aged care facilities would not use items that require sterilisation for reuse. Disposable single-use equipment and dressing items would generally be used. However, if items need to be sterilised, then a suitable service provider must be sourced by the facility which is able to/must comply with...

Respiratory Hygiene (Cough Etiquette)

What Is It? To prevent the transmission of all respiratory infections in healthcare settings, infection control measures should be implemented at the first point of contact with a potentially infected person. Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette should be applied as standard infection control precautions at all times. Covering sneezes and...

Donning and Doffing PPE

Personal protective equipment is a shield that protects both healthcare workers and residents and should be applied and removed in the correct sequence to avoid cross-contamination.  Donning involves putting on the required PPE before resident contact and must be performed in a certain order. Doffing is the process of taking...

Aseptic Technique

What Is It? The aseptic technique is an important patient safety strategy and a key element of standard precautions. The aseptic technique is a set of practices that protect residents from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and protects healthcare workers from contact with blood, body fluid, and body tissue. When performed correctly...