Universal precautions refer to practices that should be followed by all healthcare workers to prevent exposure to infectious diseases. They include hand washing, safe disposal of needles and other sharps, wearing protective equipment like gloves when handling bodily fluids, and cleaning and disinfecting equipment. Universal precautions are important because all patients should be treated as potentially infectious and they help minimize the risk of spreading diseases in healthcare settings.

1. Mr.Yogesh A Dengale
MSc Nursing Student
UNIVERSALUNIVERSAL
BIOSAFETYBIOSAFETY
PRECAUTIONSPRECAUTIONS

2. All patients are considered to be possible carriers of
blood born pathogens
Hence universal precautions are applied to all
Universal precautions are required for doctors, nurses,
health care workers who come in contact with patients
and bodily fluids

3. Safe or good clinical practices applied
‘universally’ in caring for all patients, regardless
of the diagnosis in order to minimize or avoid
exposure to infection

4. Hand washing
Decontamination of equipment and devices
 Use and disposal of needles and sharps safely
 Wearing protective items
 Prompt cleaning up of blood and body fluid spills
Systems for safe collection of waste and disposal

5. 5
There is risk of splash to mucous
membranes
Handling blood or body substances

6. 6
Providing care which induces coughing
Performing invasive procedures such
as cannulation and catheterisations

7. 7
There is risk of hands being
contaminated with blood or body
substances
Before and after patient contact,
perform hand hygiene

8. 8
Hand hygiene practices including
washing of hands before and after
each patient contact
Cover any cuts before commencing
work

9. 9
Using Personal Protection Equipments
for risk of splash to clothes with blood
and body substances
Safe handling and disposal of sharps

10. 10
 The use of aseptic technique
 Getting vaccinated and check your immunity to
vaccine preventable diseases
 Reporting all occupational exposures
 Keeping a clean environment

11.  Hand washing
 Assessment of condition of protective equipment
 Safe disposal of waste materials
 Ensuring that appropriate cleaning and disinfecting agents
are available
 Decontamination of instruments and equipment
 Monitoring of integrity of skin

12.  Making all staff aware of established infection control
policies
Ongoing training to build skills in safe practices
Proper handling of equipment and materials
 Monitoring and evaluation of practices

13.  Indicator – I
Indicator -II
Indicator -III
Indicator -IV
Indicator -V

14.  Sharp instruments to be handled safely
Appropriate puncture proof sharp container
Sharps are not protruding from container
 No recapping or one hand recapping of needle and
syringe

15.  Instruments decontaminated fully
 Equipments thoroughly cleaned after use and stored in
cupboards

16.  Hands are washed appropriately to prevent cross
infection (MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD)
 Wash hands with soap and water-
after contact with body fluids
 removal of gloves
 contact with patients

17.  Protective barrier is worn to prevent exposure to blood
 Equipments thoroughly cleaned after use and stored in
cupboards

18.  Waste disposal safely

19. Use a puncture proof‐
container for storage
and/or disposal
Do not recap a needle
before disposal unless using
one hand technique‐

21. GlovesGloves

24. To avoid accidental splash

25. • Gloves
• Face shield or goggles
• Gown
• Mask or respirator

26. DON’T
BE
SCARED
OF HIV

27.  For linen & clothing –
 Sodium hypochlorite solution
- 20ml/liter in clean condition,
-100ml/liter in dirty condition

28. For furniture spills & equipments-
 Cetrimide (Savlon) 10ml + 1Lit of water

29. For Hand Wash – 70% ethyl alcohol

30. Cleaning
Removes high proportion of micro organisms
and contaminants
Disinfections
Eliminates most recognized pathogenic micro
organisms, inactivates HIV
Sterilization
Destroys all micro organisms, inactivates HIV

31. Minimize high risk of exposure to HIV infected blood
and body fluids in labour room
 Cover broken skin with watertight dressing
 Practice universal precautions
 Wear proper protective clothing
 Double glove during procedures‐
 Long cuffed gloves during manual removal of placenta‐
 Dispose of solid waste according to recommended
protocols

33. To reduce occupational risks
• Assess high risk situations and areas‐
• Develop safety standards and protocols
• Institute measures to reduce occupational stress
• Orient new staff to safety protocols
• Provide ongoing staff education and supervision
• Develop protocols for post exposure prophylaxis(PEP) and general‐
first aid

34. Prevention is better than cure
Universal precautions are must
Always follow safe work practices