Universal precautions urge the use of personal equipments for any kind of treatment and always assume that a patient may be carrying an infection. However, the importance of such precautions rose immensely when it was found that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which can be passed on through the blood and certain body fluids, and that AIDS can go unnoticed for a number of years.

The following 6 points will tell you about the extra precautions to be taken while treating HIV patients.

– Complete Personal Equipment: When administering treatment to HIV patients you must ensure that you have worn all the necessary equipment like gloves, face masks, gowns and glasses or goggles. This is especially important if the patient has a wound or broken skin and is equally crucial during surgeries where there is a greater possibility of blood or fluids to splatter. Besides you must also ensure that your gear is in order and must not use it if damaged in any way.

– Sharp Instruments: You must be very careful around sharp instruments like needles or scalpels which have been used on HIV patients. Such instruments can easily penetrate or puncture your gloves or gown and must be therefore put in a standard container immediately after use. An injury to your own self with such instruments is to be avoided in all circumstances.

– Healthcare Personnel: If you are injured or have broken skin or even any kind of sores or weeping skin then it is best that you avoid contact with HIV patients. If treating such individuals is unavoidable then ensure that you have worn all the required gear securely without leaving the affected skin exposed in any manner.

– Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Studies show that HIV is not transmitted through saliva, but such a patient may have a bleeding injury close to the mouth which can be dangerous. Thus when administering CPR to the individual, you must make use of ventilation devices for administering artificial respiration.

– Personal Hygiene: After treating an HIV patient you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Also if any blood or fluid has come in contact with your skin, you must clean it off completely with a good antiseptic. Remember that as a precaution this must be done even if your own skin is not broken.

– Replacement: After treating a HIV patient you must discard the gloves safely and wash your hands before seeing another patient. Also remove all gear after any invasive treatment especially if blood has come on to it. The gear must be removed carefully without touching it to your body and must be put away so as not to spread infection.

The nature of HIV and AIDS is such that preventing any contact with the blood or fluid is the best precaution you can take. Such care must not only be taken by dentists and the doctors performing the surgery of such patients but also by the personnel who clean up afterwards.

For more information, please visit our universal precautions website.

For more information, please visit our universal precautions website http://www.universalprecautions.com

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our universal precautions website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: infections,healthcare staff ,house-keeping ,Universal Precautions ,HIV,AIDS,HIV Patients