Infection control includes considering any materials that could be potentially contaminated with blood or other human body fluids as infectious, to consider all materials, instruments, environmental surfaces, etc. that could possibly be contaminated with blood or body fluids as infectious, and to prevent cross contamination of infection between the following categories of persons: patients and employees, patients and patients, patients and visitors, employees and employees, and employees and visitors. This is accomplished using proper infection control techniques, appropriate use of clean/sterile supplies and equipment, and providing a safe environment using infection control procedures and precautions.
Use the following steps:
1. Cardiology Medical Group ensures that all procedures meet all current and appropriate regulations and recommendations and provides training and review of all procedures mandated by OSHA and other applicable agencies for dealing with blood-borne pathogens (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030).
2. The office is responsible for cleaning, laundering, disinfecting, and repairing all personal protection equipment.
3. The office provides routine housekeeping services, including the removal and disinfection of contaminated laundry and linens.
4. All personnel are trained upon hire and annually thereafter during normal working hours about the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens and procedures for preventing exposure and post-exposure requirements.
5. All personnel at risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens are offered HepB vaccine and necessary boosters. The office maintains documentation of vaccine status or declination of vaccine.
6. The office supplies personal protection equipment to all employees at no cost to employees. Equipment includes:
•Eye goggles, shields, and face mask/shield protection.
•Head protection, if needed. Caps for employees to restrain and protect hair.
•Foot protection, if needed.
•Hand protection, including latex gloves.
7. All personnel must wash hands after direct or indirect contact with contaminated sources.
8. All personnel must wear protective gloves during procedures where contact with potentially contaminated substances is likely to occur. Wear disposable, waterproof gloves when touching blood and body fluids or when handling contaminated items.
Note Gloves should be used in addition to hand-washing, not as a substitute.
9. All personnel must wear protective masks during procedures when it is likely that their mouth or nose may be splashed with potentially contaminated substances.
10. All personnel must wear protective eyewear during procedures when it is likely that their eyes may be splashed with potentially contaminated substances.
11. All personnel must wear protective cover gowns during procedures when it is likely that their clothes will be contaminated with blood or body fluids.
12. All personnel must wash their hands when gloves are removed or after any direct or indirect contact with any blood or body substances.
13. Whenever possible, use mouthpieces or other ventilation devices instead of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
14. Handle potentially contaminated instruments carefully and while wearing gloves designed to withstand cleaning procedures.
15. Clean instruments, equipment, and environmental surfaces in solutions or sterilizers that are appropriate to their level of contamination and that meet appropriate guidelines.
•You must sterilize a0 critical instrument (one that has penetrated soft tissue or bone or come in contact with mucous membranes) in a heat or heat pressure sterilizer.
•You must carefully disinfect a touch and splash surface (one that has been exposed to the splatter of blood or body fluids or contaminated by treatment personnel) with an intermediate or higher-level EPA registered, hospital-grade disinfectant. This includes, but is not limited to, equipment and environmental surfaces.
16. Implement appropriate housekeeping techniques to prevent cross-contamination.
17. Manage infectious patients with communicable diseases appropriately to prevent a spread of the disease.
18. Dispose of potentially contaminated waste per the Hazardous Waste section.
19. Implement a Blood-borne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan that includes the following:
•Containers for reusable sharps, contaminated equipment, needles, and sharps
•Exposure determination
•Hazardous and regulated waste disposal
•Hepatitis B vaccine and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
•Housekeeping
•Implementation and compliance methods
•Information and training
•Labels and signs
•Laundry procedures
•Personal protective equipment
•Record-keeping
•Specimens
•Work area restrictions
20. A designated refrigerator must be available for medications that need to be stored in a controlled temperature environment. This refrigerator must not contain food material nor drink that is meant for patients or staff. For more information, see Proper Maintenance and Storage of Drugs.
21. Use the designated area for preparing medications and storing cleaning supplies. This area is designated as a “Clean Area” where access to any material that may or does contain any body fluids is forbidden.
22. Designate an area where dirty laundry, dirty supplies, used food trays, and such items are kept for further processing.
23. Keep hazardous/medical waste separate from regular trash. Hazardous waste includes products that could contain body fluids that might transmit infectious diseases, used medical and surgical supplies that can be discarded rather than autoclaved, etc. A complete list can be obtained from state and county regulatory agencies.
•Use biohazardous waste containers that can be opened with a step-on mechanism (no use of hands) and are lined with a red bag liner, which indicates contents are a biohazardous waste.
•Ensure waste containers with red biohazardous bags are readily available, although they do not need to be kept in every examination room.
24. Use a specific container for disposal of used syringes and needles in compliance with state and safety regulations. Immediately dispose of (do not recap) used needles, and placed them in a puncture resistant, leakproof container. For more information, see Sharps.
25. Dispose of outdated medications in a timely manner at least once a month. For more information, see Proper Maintenance and Storage of Drugs.
26. Complete a contractual agreement with a pharmaceutical disposal company in your area. The Department of Pharmacy and Health and Safety codes have standards for disposal.
27. Clean patient care areas after each patient use as follows:
•Place a new protector over the examination table. A clean strip of paper should be available for each patient. Discard used paper strips between each patient visits. This protector/barrier is placed between equipment, such as an examination table, chair, and infant weight scale, and the patient.
•Clean areas contaminated with blood or infectious waste after contact. A 10% bleach solution is recommended.
28. All personnel must wash their hands after going to the toilet, after blowing his/her nose, and after smoking.
29. All personnel must wash and dry their hands before and after patient contact. Wash hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 30 seconds. Waterless, alcohol-based hand-sanitizers are also effective, unless hands are visibly soiled.
30. All personnel must not use linen or cotton towels, but use disposable paper towels instead.
31. All personnel must cover all cuts, sores, and abrasions.
32. Clean products requiring cold sterilization with appropriate solutions that will kill HIV, HBV, and TB. Use solutions according to the product label. For more information, see Cold Sterilization.
•Store cleaning fluid containers in an area controlled from patient access to avoid accidental misuse.
•Label cleaning fluid containers with the name of the solution, the concentration (especially if dilution was indicated), the date of activation, and the expiration date.