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Safety in the Laboratory
Published in Niel T. Constantine, Johnny D. Callahan, Douglas M. Watts, Retroviral Testing, 2020
Niel T. Constantine, Johnny D. Callahan, Douglas M. Watts
Practicing “universal precautions” is the most effective and efficient method of preventing exposure to HIV and other pathogens. Universal precautions are applied in the care of all individuals, since medical history and examination cannot reliably identify those individuals who are infected with HIV. All blood and body fluids should be handled as if infectious, and all practical precautions should be observed. The decision to wear gloves when handling specimens that are not included in the list recommended for use of universal precautions should be made by the individual. Good hygienic practice is sufficient reason to wear gloves when handling samples.
Introduction: Preparing a patient for surgery
Published in J. Richard Smith, Giuseppe Del Priore, Robert L. Coleman, John M. Monaghan, An Atlas of Gynecologic Oncology, 2018
Srdjan Saso, Benjamin P. Jones, J. Richard Smith, Giuseppe Del Priore
This chapter reviews three specific areas relevant to virtually all surgical procedures and surgeons: infection prophylaxis; deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis; and universal precautions. Universal precautions facilitate the protection of surgeons and their assistants, medical and nursing, and patients. Preoperative and postoperative checklists now form a vital part of risk reduction. James Reason, PhD, formulated the “Swiss cheese theory” of risk. This is based on a piece of Swiss cheese with holes in it. The more slices one puts in the cheese, the less likely it is that an arrow could fly through the holes, and thus the holes are less likely to tally with each other. Therefore the more layers of checking that one puts in pre- and postoperatively, the less likely it is that the antibiotic prophylaxis will be forgotten or the postoperative DVT prophylaxis will not be given. A simple checklist is shown in Figure 1.1. The purpose of any such checklist is to systematically and efficiently ensure that all operative conditions are optimal with respect to patient safety. The hope is that by completing such a checklist, the lives and well-being of surgical and thus gynecological patients will be minimized as errors in patient identity, site, and type of procedure are avoided completely.
Analytical Toxicology of Vitreous Humor
Published in Steven H. Y. Wong, Iraving Sunshine, Handbook of Analytical Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Toxicology, 2017
Infection control must be a concern when working with vitreous humor samples, just as it is with other biological specimens. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis, and tuberculosis are among the diseases that can be spread by improper exposure to a contaminated sample. Klatt and Noguchi3 have properly summarized the need for routine use of universal precautions. The CDC recommends that universal precautions be employed for routine infection control.4 This means that workers must assume that all persons, specimens, or bodies may be harboring infectious agents, including HIV. This is because—as we stated earlier—you cannot always tell from appearances who is infected and who is not. Moreover, many infectious diseases-such as hepatitis or tuberculosis—are more easily transmissible than HIV. In fact, attention should not be focused only on HIV while ignoring other potentially harmful diseases.
Personal protective equipment in the siege of respiratory viral pandemics: strides made and next steps
Published in Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 2021
Uzoamaka A. Eke, Ahizechukwu C. Eke
PPE refers to equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses [10]. The Occupational Safety and Health act of 1970 which led the U.S Congress to create the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), revolutionized the concept for the provision of protection from work-related injuries, illness, and death [11]. OSHA’s determination of the appropriate PPE that is adequate for every job or profession ensures that employers ‘must’ provide that PPE to employees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish these recommendations while the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provide the necessary certification and approval, respectively [10]. ‘Universal Precautions,’ established by OSHA in 1987, were expanded to ‘Standard Precautions’ in 1996 to prevent exposure to every patient’s blood, body fluids, non-intact skin and mucus membranes as well as other potentially infectious materials [12]. The recommendation for respiratory protection was first introduced in U.S health-care workers in 1989 to prevent exposure to tuberculosis [13]. Hence, PPE and other infection control practices are recommended, depending on the degree of clinical interaction with any given patient. In health care, PPE ranges from gloves, gowns, face masks, respirators, and face shields to head and foot covers as well as whole-body coveralls. Just as important as it is to have PPE, is the necessity to have the training and ability to don, use, and doff properly to prevent contamination [14].
Infection Prevention: 2020 Review and Update for Neurodiagnostic Technologists
Published in The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 2020
Anna M. Bonner, Petra Davidson
OSHA and the CDC require the use of Standard Precautions (formerly and sometimes interchangeably still known as Universal Precautions) within the health-care workplace. Under Standard Precautions and the CDC’s Guideline for Isolation Precautions, all human and OPIM must be treated as infectious for HIV, HBV, HCV or other pathogens regardless of whether the patient is perceived as low risk. Standard Precautions applies to “all patients at all times” and includes all body fluids and substances, not just blood (CDC 2018a). In other words, mandated federal regulations require the same level of disinfection to be used for reusable electrodes removed from a seemingly healthy outpatient as for an ICU patient with a known disease such as neurosyphilis, HIV, HBV, etc.
Occupational accidents of emergency medicine residents in Turkey
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2022
Necmiye Yalcin Ocak, Murat Yesilaras, Yesim Eyler, Onur Hakoglu
Occupational accidents also cause economic loss due to post-exposure testing and prophylaxis, treatment and compensation expenses, days not working and workforce loss [3]. Not all occupational accidents are reported to the institution. The most important reason for this is that the reporting process is laborious, and accidents occur frequently [1,3]. Furthermore, due to this lack of data, the problem can be underestimated and ignored [3]. It is essential to comply with universal precautions to prevent most occupational accidents, which can be significantly reduced by providing easy access to PPE and training on their use, and encouraging their use [7]. The current situation and habits should be determined to plan and follow improvements in PPE use.