Hawke’s Bay DHB Infection Prevention and Control Advisor MARGARET DRURY shares some standard precautions to help prevent and contain an outbreak in an aged care facility.

 

Hand hygiene

• Hand washing or alcohol gel.
• Perform before and after touching the patient and their surroundings.
• Perform before and after contact with body fluids, e.g. blood, urine or bowel motions.

Gloves

• Wear gloves before touching body fluids and broken skin.
• Always perform hand hygiene before and after removal.

Mask and eye protection

• Protect eyes, nose, and mouth during activities that cause splashes or sprays of body fluids. 

Gown/plastic apron

• Wear during cares that may cause splashes or sprays of body fluids.

Environmental control

• For cleaning of beds, equipment and frequently touched surfaces, follow the facility’s cleaning guidelines.

Used linen

• Discard into linen bins immediately to stop personal contamination and transfer of bugs/germs to other patients.