Safety and Infection Control
Core concepts
Standard precautions apply to every patient, every specimen, and every contact. Hand hygiene is the single most effective control; perform it before and after patient contact and after glove removal. Wear gloves for blood contact, gown when splash is likely, and eye/nose/mouth protection when aerosols or splashes are anticipated. Do not substitute gloves for handwashing. Use safety-engineered needles and activate the safety device immediately after use. Place sharps in a rigid, puncture-resistant, leakproof container at the point of use; never overfill past the fill line. Know spill response: contain, disinfect with an EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant at the labeled contact time, and dispose of waste per policy. Segregate regulated medical waste, sharps, and nonhazardous trash; never place sharps in red biohazard bags alone. If latex allergy is reported, use latex-free supplies and ask about cross-reactive foods. Apply transmission-based precautions when posted.
Question traps
Questions often reverse PPE order. Donning: gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, gloves. Removing: gloves, eye protection, gown, mask, then hand hygiene. Recapping by two hands is prohibited; if recapping is unavoidable, use a one-hand scoop technique. A common trap is choosing bleach or a scrub brush for a needlestick; washing with soap and water is correct.
Worked rule
After a needlestick, wash the site with soap and water, flush exposed mucous membranes, report immediately, and complete the exposure report so source evaluation and postexposure prophylaxis can begin. Treat safety-device activation as part of the procedure, not an optional step.