Page 114 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

6.4.4 Inoculation risks and body fluids (refer to sharp injuries)
1. All staff must be aware of the infection risk from body fluids, blood, needles and
sharps and must ensure that others are not exposed to these hazards.
2. Disciplinary action may be taken against any employee who is shown to be
responsible for the careless disposal of hazardous items.
3. Discard sharps only into sharps bins.
4. Never fill sharps bins more than three-quarters full.
5. Do not leave needles and sharps lying around for somebody else to clear up.
6. Needles should not be re-sheathed but if re-sheathing is unavoidable then a safe
one-handed technique must be used.
7. Blood spillages must be cleared up at once.
8. Wear non-sterile disposable latex gloves and a plastic apron.
9. Small spills may be covered with chlorine releasing granules and then cleared away
with paper towels.

10. Large spills are best soaked up with paper towels first and then the area
decontaminated with 1% hypochlorite.
11. Discard gloves, apron and paper towels into a yellow bag for incineration.
12. Splashes of blood or any other body fluid on to the skin should be washed off at once
with soap and water.
13. Gloves should be worn for any procedure involving blood and body fluids or contact
with broken skin or mucous membranes.
14. Staff with broken skin on their hands should wear gloves for handling any body fluid.
15. If an accident occurs, the protocol for dealing with sharps injuries and mucosal
exposure must be followed immediately (see Sharp Injuries and Mucosal Exposure).

6.4.5 Screening of patients for HIV and hepatitis viruses
1. Until the HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C status of a dialysis patient is known; all
patients must be treated as potentially infective.
2. Known positive patients should be dialysed in the unit using dedicated haemodialysis
machine in a dedicated area or room.
3. All patients will be routinely screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C before
being accepted to the Hemodialysis programme.
4. All susceptible patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis treatment should be
routinely screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C once every six months.

6.4.6 Hepatitis B immunization
1. All patients who are susceptible to hepatitis B infection should be offered Hepatitis
B vaccine followed by measurement of anti-Hepatitis Bs antibodies, as early as
possible in the course of their disease.

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