Safe Use and Disposal of Sharps

Infection Prevention Solutions

STANDARD INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTIONS (SICPs)

In relation to the general population but in particular in a health or care facility there is often no way of knowing which of the service users/patients are infected. It is essential that Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) are used for all service users on every contact.

SICPs, often referred to as ‘universal or standard precautions’, are a single set of activities used by all staff for all service users at all times, in order to reduce the transmission of micro-organisms from both recognised and unrecognised sources of infection.

In many instances, pathogenic (disease-producing) organisms have already spread prior to the confirmation of a diagnosis. Furthermore, pathogenic organisms are frequently carried by individuals in their blood or body fluids or on the skin without signs of clinical infection – known as “colonisation”. Therefore, it is important to institute appropriate precautions at all times, for all service users, rather than wait for confirmation of a diagnosis when it may be too late to prevent the spread of infection.

SICPs apply to the care of all service users regardless of diagnosis or presumed infection status, where there is possible contact with:

• blood • all other body fluids • secretions and excretions except sweat • non-intact skin • mucous membranes (conjunctivae, mouth, nose, vagina, rectum)

These precautions include:

• effective hand hygiene • wearing appropriate protective clothing • safe disposal of sharps and other healthcare waste • safe management of spillages • prevention and treatment of sharps injuries • adequate and appropriate decontamination of the healthcare environment and service user-related equipment • protecting cuts and abrasions on staff skin with an impermeable dressing, e.g. plaster and ensuring appropriate immunisations are up-to-date by means of routine pre-employment screening

Guidance on implementation of specific SICPs is given throughout this document in the relevant sections.