Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Reference Manual
Dispose of hypodermic needles and other sharps properly in a puncture-proof (heavy
cardboard, glass, metal, or thick plastic) container (sharps container shown below).
Figure 1.6. Sharps containers
Make hypodermic needles unusable by burning them or, when the above container is ¾ full,
seal the opening and burn the container or fill the container with decontaminating solution, seal
the opening, and bury the container.
Preventing Splashes
Wear appropriate protective goggles, gloves, and gown during delivery. Preventing splashes
protects the client, health worker, and housekeeping staff from accidental injuries and exposure
to blood and body fluids.
Prevent splashes from blood or amniotic fluid by following these guidelines:
• Avoid snapping the gloves when removing them, as this may cause contaminants to
splash into the eyes, mouth, or onto the skin or on others.
• Hold instruments and other items under the surface of the water while scrubbing and
cleaning to avoid splashing.
• Place items gently into the decontamination bucket to avoid splashes.
• Avoid rupturing membranes during a uterine contraction.
• Stand to the side when rupturing membranes to avoid splashes from amniotic fluid.
• Cut the cord, using sterile scissors or a scalpel blade, under cover of a gauze swab to
prevent blood spurting.
• Always wear gloves when handling the placenta and handle it carefully. Keep it in a leakproof
plastic bag or other container until it can be disposed of by burning or burying. The
placenta should not be disposed of in a river or open garbage pit.
Note: If blood or body fluids get in the mouth or on the skin, wash
liberally with soap and water as soon as it is safe for the woman
and baby. If blood or body fluids splash in your eyes, wash out
well with water.
The Steps of Processing Instruments
Proper processing involves several steps that reduce the risk of transmitting infections from
used instruments and other items to health care workers and clients. These steps are:
1) decontamination, 2) cleaning, 3) either sterilization or high-level disinfection (HLD), and
4) storage. For proper processing, it is essential to perform the steps in the correct order.
1. Decontamination kills viruses (hepatitis B and C, HCV, HIV) and many other germs. It
makes items safer to handle during cleaning and easier to clean (hence, decontamination
should always be done before cleaning).
Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course
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