Universal precautions were created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect people working in health care and first aid. These precautions work on the premise that all blood and most body fluids should be considered potentially contaminated with HIV--human immunodeficiency virus--or other communicable diseases spread by blood contact. All bodily fluids other than vomit, feces, urine, nasal secretions, sweat, tears, saliva and sputum should be considered potentially hazardous, and these fluids should also be considered hazardous if they contain obvious blood.
Handwashing
Caregivers should wash hands thoroughly between each patient contact, after removing gloves. They should also wash hands frequently during patient care and any body surface that comes into contact with blood or body fluids.
Protective Wear
Medical personnel should wear disposable gloves when the potential for contact with blood or other hazardous fluids exists. They should wear a mask and goggles or other protective eyewear when the potential for the splashing of fluids is present. They should wear a gown or apron to protect the skin and clothing.
Spills
Caregivers should clean up spills of blood immediately with a solution of bleach and water. UCLA instructs that a dilution of one part bleach to 10 parts water is appropriate for cleaning blood spills.
Needles
Needles, scalpels and other sharp instruments must be handled with caution. Personnel should dispose of used sharp instruments in a puncture-proof marked container that is not allowed to become overly full. Used needles should never be recapped. Any nondisposable instruments that have had blood contact must be cleaned with disinfectant and then sterilized.
Disposal
Caregivers should deposit disposable items such as used wound dressings that have had blood contact in a red bag marked "biohazard" or "infectious waste." Nondisposable contaminated items such as gowns should be handled per facility policy.
Specimens
Health workers should place bodily fluid or secretion specimens into a leak-proof plastic bag marked "biohazard." Specimens should be handled with care and sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.
CPR
Appropriate disposable gear should be available for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Disposable mouthpieces and resuscitation apparatuses that eliminate the need for mouth-to-mouth contact should be available in areas where the need for CPR is possible.
