What order should you follow after a spill of blood or other potentially infectious materials?
Health services should have management systems in place for dealing with blood and body substance spills. Protocols should be included in procedural manuals, and emphasised in ongoing education or training programs. Show
The basic principles of blood and body fluid/substance spills management are:
Using these basic principles, the management of spills should be flexible enough to cope with different types of spills, taking into account the following factors:
Cleaning spills – equipmentStandard cleaning equipment, including a mop, cleaning bucket and cleaning agents, should be readily available for spills management. It should also be stored in an area known to all. This is particularly important in clinical areas. To help manage spills in areas where cleaning materials may not be readily available, a disposable ‘spills kit’ could be used, containing a large (10 L) reusable plastic container or bucket with fitted lid, containing the following items:
Single-use items in the spills kit should be replaced after each use of the spills kit. With all spills management protocols, it is essential that the affected area is left clean and dry. Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) spills kits should be available for areas at risk for higher-risk Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) spills, such as in neurosurgery units, mortuaries and laboratories. Cleaning spills – proceduresIn clinical areas, blood and body fluid/substance spills should be dealt with as soon as possible. In operating rooms, or in circumstances where medical procedures are under way, spills should be attended to as soon as it is safe to do so. Care should be taken to thoroughly clean and dry areas where there is any possibility of bare skin contact with the surface (for example, on an examination couch). PPE should be used for all cleaning procedures, and disposed of or sent for cleaning after use. Hands should be washed and dried after cleaning. Where a spill occurs on a carpet, shampoo as soon as possible. Do not use disinfectant. Steam cleaning may be used instead. Wash hands thoroughly after cleaning is completed. Cleaning spots or small spillsSpots or drops of blood or other small spills (up to 10 cm) can easily be managed by wiping the area immediately with paper towels, and then cleaning with warm water and detergent, followed by rinsing and drying the area. Dry the area, as wet areas attract contaminants. A hospital-grade disinfectant can be used on the spill area after cleaning. Cleaning large spillsWhere large spills (more than 10 cm) have occurred in a ‘wet’ area, such as a bathroom or toilet area, the spill should be carefully washed off into the sewerage system using copious amounts of water and the area flushed with warm water and detergent. Large blood spills that have occurred in ‘dry’ areas (such as clinical areas) should be contained and generation of aerosols should be avoided. Granular formulations that produce high available chlorine concentrations can contain the spilled material and are useful for preventing aerosols. A scraper and pan should be used to remove the absorbed material. The area of the spill should then be cleaned with a mop, and bucket of warm water and detergent. The bucket and mop should be thoroughly cleaned after use and stored dry. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)It is generally unnecessary to use sodium hypochlorite for managing spills, but it may be used in specific circumstances. It is recognised, however, that some healthcare workers and members of the public may feel more reassured that the risk of infection is reduced if sodium hypochlorite is used. Healthcare workers and members of the public should be aware that there is no evidence of benefit from an infection control perspective. Hypochlorites are corrosive to metals and must be rinsed off after 10 minutes and the area dried. Cleaning spills that contain Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prionsIf a spill of tissue that is definitely or potentially infected with CJD prions occurs (for example, brain tissue), the contaminated item should either be: The items should then be cleaned following routine cleaning and sterilisation procedures. Surface spills should be cleaned up using paper towels before the surface is wiped with either sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite, left for 1 hour (if possible, or as long as possible, with the area cordoned off), the solution wiped off and the surface cleaned by following routine cleaning procedures. What steps should be followed in case of blood spill?STOP service.. GLOVE hands of licensee.. CLEAN injured area as appropriate.. APPLY antiseptic and/or liquid or spray styptic as appropriate (see NOTE).. COVER the injury with the appropriate dressing to prevent further blood exposure.. BAG and dispose of all contaminated objects. ... . RETURN to service.. What is the 3 step procedure for cleaning up a blood spill?Absorbent (paper towels, diatomaceous earth or other solid absorbent). Procedure for Spills on Hard, non-porous surfaces: Cleanup and decontamination is a 3 step process requiring proper personal protection equipment, removal of gross filth (visible material), followed by disinfection of surface.
What is the first step you should take when cleaning up a spill of blood or other potentially infectious material?Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and running water. Use non-abrasive, antibacterial soap if possible. If blood is splashed in the eye or mucous membrane, flush the affected area with running water for at least 15 minutes.
What should you do after working with blood or infectious materials?Clean and decontaminate all equipment and surfaces in contact with blood or other infectious material. Dispose of sharps in a puncture-proof, labeled container. Know the proper response for accidental exposures. Report on-the-job exposures promptly, and seek immediate medical attention.
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