Wear a mask and eye protection if splashing is possible. Hospital protocol will
determine what type of eye protection is required for each specific case.
(Reason: Infection could enter your body through the mucous membranes of
your mouth or nose or through your eyes.)
Dispose of sharp objects carefully. Do not recap or break needles. Needles and
sharp objects are placed in a special container after use. (Reason: There is a
possibility of accidental finger stick. It is important to protect yourself and
housekeeping personnel.)
If you have an on-the-job accident that causes a break in the skin, notify your
nursing supervisor immediately. (Reason: Immediate precautions must be taken
to protect you.)
Special care is taken of a deceased patient's body. (Reason: To prevent
leakage of body substances. It is safer to assume that all patients are
infectious.)
All health care workers who perform or assist in vaginal or cesarean delivery
should wear gloves and gowns when handling the placenta or the infant until
blood and amniotic fluid have been removed from the infant's skin. Gloves
should be worn until after post-delivery care of the umbilical cord.
Pregnant health care workers are not known to be at greater risk of contracting
HIV infection than health care workers who are not pregnant; however, if a health
care worker develops HIV infection during pregnancy, the infant is at risk.
Because of this risk, pregnant health care workers should be especially familiar
with and strictly adhere to precautions to minimize the risk of HIV transmission.
Adapted from Centers for Disease Control: Recommendations for prevention of HIV
transmission in health care settings. MMWR 36: Suppl. 25: 1987. Centers for Disease
Control: Update: Universal precautions for prevention or transmission of human
immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and other blood-borne pathogens in health-
care settings. MMWR 37: 24, 1988. (Note: The subject was researched July 2006 and
no changes were noted.)
End of Appendix
MD0553
A-2