A Timely Topic
With the serious outbreak of the Corona Virus in China and its appearance in other parts of the world, including the cases we are now aware of in the United States, health care professionals must take universal precautions seriously. While the chances of the Corona Virus infecting anyone in senior care appears to be extremely low, taking precautions against bacteria, fungus, viruses and parasites should remain at the forefront of every healthcare professional’s mind.
Universal Precautions
These are perhaps two of the most important words in health care and senior care today. It is far too easy to spread bacteria and viruses from place to place and person to person. Healthcare professionals should treat all blood and body fluids as if they are contaminated and potentially infected. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed precaution guidelines to reduce risks of spreading common germs like Strep, Staph and e-coli, the common cold and flu, and HIV.
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Five Ways Germs are Transmitted
The CDC has provided information to effectively reduce the spread of germs that are:
- Airborne – Legionaire’s disease and the Corona Virus
- Droplets – the common cold, flu and TB
- Blood and body fluids – STDs and HIV
- Skin to skin – ringworm and pinkeye
- Oral and fecal – hepatitis A and e-coli
These germs travel from place to place or person to person when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches someone with their hands. The germs then find their portal of entry on the individual and he or she has become potentially infected. The chain of events then repeats itself over and over.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Some of the most dangerous bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B or HBV, Hepatitis C and HIV-AIDS. Hepatitis B Virus is very contagious and causes inflammation in the liver, jaundice, fatigue, appetite loss and abdominal pain. Around 10% of people infected with Hepatitis B become carriers. The virus can live outside of the body for up to two weeks, making it particularly dangerous. Luckily, there is an effective vaccine for HBV.
Hepatitis C is also very contagious and causes symptoms which initially appear to be those of Hepatitis B. Sadly, over 10,000 people in the United States die annually from Hepatitis C-related chronic liver disease. This virus can live outside of the body for 3 to 4 days. About 85% of people are chronically infected carriers of the virus and there is no vaccine for it.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV attacks the body’s immune system and destroys the body’s ability to effectively fight infection. Around 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, and surprisingly, half are over 50 years of age. Thankfully, today most people will live out their entire life expectancy due to the effectiveness of medications. Despite this, there is still no cure.
The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment
While handwashing is the best way to reduce transmission of germs, personal protective equipment or PPE is used anytime exposure to blood or any other potentially infectious material is possible. The type of PPE should match the situation and every senior care community should have OSHA kits and sharps containers.
PPE includes the use of gloves, masks, face shields, and gowns. Gloves are made of latex, vinyl, and other non-allergic material and must be worn by staff when performing tasks which involve handling blood or body fluids. They must be thrown away after each use. The best way to remove them is to peel them down without touching the outside, roll them up and discard them. Hands should be washed prior to and after gloves are used.
Masks and face shields can protect staff from splashes or droplets of potentially infected materials through the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth or nose. Gowns are usually disposable and are made of paper and other lightweight material and are worn to protect employees against their clothing becoming contaminated.
Final Thoughts on Universal Precautions in Senior Care
While the Corona Virus rages across China and is now being seen in smaller numbers of infected people in other countries, including the United States, universal precautions have never been more important. Germs come in many forms and are transmitted in various ways, so the use of personal protective equipment is a must when working with any potentially infectious material. This is one of those topics where the old saying “It is better to be safe than sorry” could not be more appropriate.
(NOTE: Interested in CEUs for Nursing Home Administrators? Checkout my Nursing Home Administrator CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)