standard precautions

Medical term Safety and Compliance

Infection control used for every patient: treat blood and all body fluids except sweat as infectious, with hand hygiene and PPE matched to the exposure.

Sources

• Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, HICPAC. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Health Care Settings. Am J Infect Control 2007;35(10 Suppl 2):S65-S164 (PMC7119119) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / HICPAC (PubMed Central copy)

Related terms

• hand hygieneCleaning hands with alcohol-based rub or soap and water. Wash with soap and water when hands are visibly…
• infectionInvasion and growth of disease-causing microorganisms in the body. Skin antisepsis before a puncture lowers…
• PPEPersonal protective equipment: gloves, gowns, masks, respirators and eye or face protection worn against…
• sharpsItems that can pierce or cut skin: needles, lancets, broken glass. Discard used ones immediately in a sharps…
• sharps containerClosable, puncture-resistant, leakproof container with a biohazard label for used sharps, kept upright…
• sharps injury logConfidential OSHA log of each contaminated sharps injury: device type and brand, where it happened and how…
• shockDangerously low blood flow to the organs. Call for help; if no injury prevents it, lay the person flat with…
• strokeBrain injury from a blocked or bleeding brain vessel. Sudden face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech…
• surgical asepsisSterile technique that keeps items completely free of microorganisms. In phlebotomy: never touch the needle…
• susceptible hostA person who can become infected, such as a patient with weak immunity or a worker who is not immune.

Study Safety and Compliance

• Free Safety and Compliance practice questions
• All Safety and Compliance terms
• PPE for Blood Collection: Putting On and Taking Off
• Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
• Hand Hygiene at the Draw Station