Simple Precautions that Make a Difference

•Wash your hands before and after examining every patient. This is
the single most important way to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases.
•Wear gloves. Gloves should be worn whenever you anticipate contact
with mucous membranes, open wounds, or body substances
(e.g., urine, feces, blood). Also wear gloves when handling items
soiled with blood or body fluids or performing any type of invasive
procedure. Do not go from patient to patient wearing the same pair
of gloves. Gloves are not a substitute for proper hand washing. After
removing your gloves, remember to wash your hands.
• Double-glove whenever possible during procedures involving
sharp instruments. Double gloves may feel uncomfortable at first,
but you will get used to them. Try wearing a glove a half size larger
next to your skin, and wear your regular size over the larger glove.

• Wear goggles. Eye protection is always advisable during procedures.
Get your own pair, and keep them in your pocket. You will be
amazed at how much material accumulates on the lenses, even when
you are not aware that any material has been sprayed. The goggles
used for racket sports are quite comfortable and often very useful.
When you wear a mask over your mouth, the goggles may fog up because
exhaled air escapes from under the mask around the edges of
your nose. To prevent your lenses from fogging, tape the mask to
your cheeks and to the bridge of your nose to prevent air escape.
• Get vaccinated against HBV. All healthcare providers should be immunized
against HBV. The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection.
The current vaccine is completely artificial, i.e., no human
products are part of the vaccine. There is no chance of contracting
HBV, HCV, or HIV from the vaccine. The vaccine is administered as a
series of three intramuscular injections. The second dose is given 1
month after the first injection, and the third dose is given 6 months
after the first injection.
• Observe proper use and disposal of all sharp instruments. Needles
for injection should not be recapped by hand. Accidents often occur
during manual recapping. Keep the cap on your tray, and slide the
needle back into the cap when you have finished using it. Do not
attempt to bend needles or other sharp objects. Use your instruments
when placing sutures—not your fingers! Suturing is often difficult
for the novice, but get in the habit of using only instruments
to hold and reposition the needle. With practice, this technique becomes
easier. Do not leave needles or other sharp instruments lying
around. Always place them in a container marked “sharp instruments”
after use.
• Adequately sterilize all reusable materials. This practice is vital to
protect healthcare providers and their patients from serious infectious
diseases. Never reuse needles or syringes without properly sterilizing
them.
• Keep all countertops and other surfaces clean. It is important to regularly
clean all surfaces that may have become contaminated by
blood or other body fluids. HBV can survive for at least 1 week in
dried blood on various surfaces. Adisinfectant made of dilute bleach
should be used for regular cleaning.