Infection Prevention
This domain tests standard precautions in every birth, not only for known infections.
Core rules
- Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact, after body-fluid exposure and after removing gloves.
- Wear gloves for vaginal examination, birth, blood contact and waste handling; wear eye protection when splashes are likely.
- Use sterile gloves and aseptic technique for vaginal examination and cord cutting. Do not recapture needles.
- Separate waste: sharps into puncture-proof containers, infectious waste into designated bags, and used linen into laundry.
- Report exposures immediately; HIV post-exposure prophylaxis should start within 72 hours, and hepatitis B prophylaxis follows national guidance.
Worked example
A midwife sustains a needle-stick injury after assisting at a birth. Reasoning: wash the site with soap and water, do not squeeze or scrub, report immediately, assess the source and start HIV PEP within 72 hours if indicated. Document the incident and arrange follow-up. Delayed reporting is the main reason PEP is missed.
Traps
- Recapping needles.
- Wearing the same gloves for two women.
- Using alcohol on mucous membranes or open wounds.
- Putting sharps in a general waste bin.