The basic Principles of Universal Precautions include:
•Assume that all individuals you have contact with as a result of job responsibilities, are potential carriers for bbp.
•Assume that all blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM: human blood, semen, vaginal secretions, wound drainage, fluids visibly contaminated with blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, unfixed tissue or organs, and any body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids are infectious for bbp and must be treated as infectious.
•Universal precautions do not apply to feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomitus unless they contain visible blood. Universal precautions do not apply to saliva except when visibly contaminated with blood or in the dental setting where blood contamination of saliva is predictable.
•Vomit, feces, urine, saliva, and tears can not transmit bloodborne pathogens. They may contain other infectious agents. To be safe, treat with basic infection control and body substance isolation. Body Substance Isolation is similar to universal precautions except that it involves all body fluids.
•Avoid contact whenever possible with a client's blood, body fluid or any areas of local infection.
•Do not eat, drink, smoke, handle contact lenses, or apply make-up without washing hands first.
•A group of approaches (Universal Precautions) is more effective than any one approach to preventing the spread of bbp.
•Gloves: Non sterile disposable vinyl or latex gloves shall be worn and changed when: (a) handling any items (e.g. laundry, dressings, and clothing) that are contaminated with another person's blood or OPIM. (b) Providing care involving potential contact with blood, OPIM, mucous membranes or non-intact skin. (c) Providing care involving potential contact with all body fluids (Note: this is basic infection control and body substance isolation, not universal precautions).
•Practitioners should keep open wounds or inflamed dermatitis covered whenever possible while working. Gloves should be worn by bodyworker's who have sores, cuts, or a rash on their hands and are providing care to individuals. Vinyl gloves are preferred because of the high rate of allergies to latex products and because oils break down latex gloves very quickly making them permeable. Clients should be encouraged to keep wounds or inflamed dermatitis covered.