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CMS Manual System - Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

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Airborne transmission can occur by inhaling pathogenic droplet nuclei (e.g., M Tuberculosis).<br />

Contaminated environmental surfaces are also potential reservoirs for infections. Infections<br />

caused by bacteria <strong>and</strong> viruses are especially common. Clostridium difficile can live on<br />

inanimate surfaces for up to 5 months 88 while the hepatitis B virus can last up to a week 89 <strong>and</strong> the<br />

influenza virus can survive on fomites (e.g., any inanimate object or substance capable <strong>of</strong><br />

carrying infectious organisms <strong>and</strong> transferring them from one individual to another) for up to 8<br />

hours. 90<br />

The appropriate disposal <strong>of</strong> waste helps minimize the potential transmission <strong>of</strong> infections. It is<br />

important for the facility to monitor safe h<strong>and</strong>ling <strong>of</strong> blood <strong>and</strong> body fluids <strong>and</strong> the disposal <strong>of</strong><br />

contaminated waste.<br />

General Approaches to Prevention <strong>and</strong> Control<br />

A facility‘s infection control practices are important to preventing the transmission <strong>of</strong> infections.<br />

Infection control precautions used by the facility include two primary tiers: ―St<strong>and</strong>ard<br />

Precautions‖ <strong>and</strong> ―Transmission-Based Precautions.‖<br />

St<strong>and</strong>ard Precautions<br />

St<strong>and</strong>ard precautions are based upon the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions,<br />

excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, <strong>and</strong> mucous membranes may contain transmissible<br />

infectious agents. St<strong>and</strong>ard precautions are intended to be applied to the care <strong>of</strong> all persons in all<br />

healthcare settings, regardless <strong>of</strong> the suspected or confirmed presence <strong>of</strong> an infectious agent.<br />

Implementation <strong>of</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard precautions constitutes the primary strategy for preventing<br />

healthcare-associated transmission <strong>of</strong> infectious agents among residents <strong>and</strong> healthcare<br />

personnel. Appropriate infection control measures should be used in each resident interaction.<br />

St<strong>and</strong>ard precautions include but are not limited to h<strong>and</strong> hygiene, safe injection practices, the<br />

proper use <strong>of</strong> PPE (e.g., gloves, gowns, <strong>and</strong> masks), resident placement, <strong>and</strong> care <strong>of</strong> the<br />

environment, textiles, <strong>and</strong> laundry. Also, equipment or items in the resident environment likely<br />

to have been contaminated with infectious fluids or other potentially infectious matter must be<br />

h<strong>and</strong>led in a manner so as to prevent transmission <strong>of</strong> infectious agents, (e.g., wear gloves for<br />

h<strong>and</strong>ling soiled equipment, <strong>and</strong> properly clean <strong>and</strong> disinfect or sterilize reusable equipment<br />

before use on another resident). 91 In addition to proper h<strong>and</strong> hygiene, it is important for staff to<br />

use appropriate protective equipment as a barrier to exposure to any body fluids (whether known<br />

to be infected or not). For example, in situations identified as appropriate, gloves <strong>and</strong> other<br />

equipment such as gowns <strong>and</strong> masks are to be used as necessary to control the spread <strong>of</strong><br />

infections. St<strong>and</strong>ard precautions are also intended to protect residents by ensuring that<br />

healthcare personnel do not carry infectious agents to residents on their h<strong>and</strong>s or via equipment<br />

used during resident care.<br />

Disposal <strong>of</strong> waste is also h<strong>and</strong>led as though all body fluids are infectious. Potentially<br />

contaminated articles are stored <strong>and</strong> disposed <strong>of</strong> in appropriate containers (e.g., sharps<br />

containers, biohazard bags, etc.), <strong>and</strong> the environment is cleaned using germicidal agents to<br />

reduce the risk <strong>of</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> infection.<br />

H<strong>and</strong> Hygiene

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