INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES
Personal protection
- Treat any body fluid as though it is infectious
- Hand hygiene is the single most important infection control measure
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after assisting ill travelers or coming in contact with body fluids or surfaces that may be contaminated.
- An alcohol-based hand cleaner is an alternative to hand-washing but will not be effective if hands are visibly soiled.
- Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose with unwashed or gloved hands.
Disposable gloves
Gloves do not replace proper hand hygiene! Wear impermeable, disposable gloves when:
- physically tending to an ill person
- coming in contact with body fluids (such as used tissues, blood, vomit, or diarrhea), potentially contaminated surfaces or lavatories
Remove gloves carefully to avoid contaminating yourself or your clothing.
Properly dispose of soiled gloves after use into a plastic bag, and do not re-use.
Wash your hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner after removing gloves.
Face masks
Surgical-type face masks worn by an ill person may help reduce the spread of respiratory germs from coughing, sneezing or talking.
Management of ill person
Respiratory infections
Minimize the number of persons directly exposed to the ill person.
Keep interactions with the ill person as brief as possible.
Ask the ill person to cover his or her mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Provide tissues, if necessary and provide a plastic bag for disposing of used tissues.
Ask the ill person to wear a face mask particularly for persistent cough, if it can be tolerated and one is available.
Encourage the ill person to wash hands and/or use alcohol-based hand cleaner (if available).
Separate the ill person from others, if possible, and without compromising safety or exposing additional people.
Gastrointestinal infections
Minimize the number of persons directly exposed to the ill person.
Keep interactions with the ill person as brief as possible.
Seat the ill person close to a lavatory, if possible.
If possible, restrict the use of that lavatory to only the ill person.
If the person is vomiting, provide sickness bags.
Provide a plastic bag for disposing of used air-sickness bags.
Encourage the ill person to wash hands and/or use alcohol-based hand cleaner (if available).
Blood-borne infections
If the ill person is actively bleeding, such as from an injury or nosebleed, provide first aid accordingly.
Separate the ill person from others far enough to reduce the likelihood of blood splattering on other people, if possible.
Provide a plastic bag for disposing soiled tissues or towels.
Targeted Clean-Up
Hard (nonporous) surfaces, such as tray tables, TV monitors, windows and walls that are visibly soiled: remove visible contaminations, then clean with a cleaning or disinfectant agent.
Soft (porous) surfaces, such as carpeted floor or seat cushions that are obviously soiled, such as with vomit or diarrhea: first remove as much of the contaminant as possible, then cover the area with an absorbent substance, followed by an impermeable material, such as plastic, to reduce the risk of spread beyond the immediate area or into the air.
If a contaminated item can be easily removed, is small enough to fit inside a plastic bag* (such as a pillow, blanket or small cushion), carefully place it inside a plastic bag* and tie or tape the bag shut securely to avoid leaking.
Dispose of used cleaning materials in a plastic bag*, immediately after use.
*Biohazard bag if available; otherwise secure in plastic bag and label as biohazard
Post-Patient Measures
Properly dispose of contaminated items
Place all receptacles that have been used by the ill person, as well as all bags containing materials used to clean up, in a plastic bag and tie it securely (see * above).
Notify authorities of areas that have been contaminated (specify respiratory, gastrointestinal, and/or blood-borne body fluids) which may need more than routine cleaning or possible removal.
Remind authorities that this may require additional personal protective equipment.
When to see a health care provider after exposure to ill persons
Any person who thinks he or she has been exposed should take the following precautions:
- Notify your employer immediately.
- Monitor your health for symptoms.
- Before visiting a health care provider, alert the clinic or emergency room in advance about your possible exposure so that arrangements can be made to prevent spreading it to others.
- When traveling to a health care provider, limit contact with other people. Avoid all other travel.
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