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0 <br />UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS (BSI) <br />J. Pregnant health-care workers are not known to be at greater risk of <br />contracting HIV and HBV infections than health-care workers who are not <br />pregnant; however, if a health-care worker develops HIV infection <br />during pregnancy, the infant is at risk of infection resulting from <br />perinatal transmission. Because of this risk, pregnant health-care <br />workers should be especially familiar with and strictly adhere to <br />precautions to minimize the risk any infection transmission. The <br />employee health office can provide further information concerning the <br />risk of acquiring infections during pregnancy. <br />k. There is little evidence to support the idea that infections are <br />transmitted to"health care workers from dishes of patients. Dietary <br />workers will deliver trays to all patients, except those patients whose <br />condition warrants respiratory or strict isolation. Regular dishes <br />will -be used for all patient trays. Trays which are grossly <br />contaminated with body fluids or sharps are to be cleaned by nursing <br />personel before being returned to the kitchen. Dietary workers are to <br />wash hands upon completion of tray delivery and pick up before starting <br />another duty. <br />1. As health-care workers, there will be times when the situation is life- <br />threatening and barriers cannot be applied immediately. When this <br />occurs, a second health-care worker can put on the necessary protective <br />covering and relieve the first caregiver who then can follow <br />handwashing procedure, put on'the appropriate protective covering, and <br />continue with needed care. <br />m. Examples of Situations Using BSI System <br />Because the -BSI System is judgement and skill based, each individual <br />makes his own decisions about when to wear gloves and use other <br />barriers 4ased on their own skill and their interaction with the <br />patient's Foy substances, non -intact skin, or raucous membranes and <br />individual department standards for consistent use of barriers. <br />Some examples of typical situations are; <br />1) Starting intravenous therapy infusions and drawing blood - wear <br />gloves. <br />2) Manipulating stopcocks - wear gloves. <br />3) Caring for incontinent patients - wear gloves and gown/apron. <br />4) Suctioning patients - wear gloves on both hands and goggles if <br />splashing anticipated. <br />5) Emptying urinary catheter bags - wear gloves. (It is unacceptable <br />to consider it a single task to empty the catheter bags for several <br />patients in sequence without changing gloves and washing hands <br />between patient. This is because the real risk of transmitting <br />organisms from the catheter bag drainage spout of one patient to <br />the next patient's drainage spout on the hands of personnel.) <br />