Question

In addition to standard precautions, what type of precautions should be used for patients with such diseases as HIV or hepatitis B?

Answer 1

Patients with diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B require additional precautions in a healthcare setting, including contact and needlestick precautions, post-exposure treatment, and environmental precautions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Patients with diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B require additional precautions in addition to standard precautions to prevent the transmission of infection in a healthcare setting.

1. Contact precautions: These precautions involve using gloves and gowns when coming into direct contact with the patient's blood or body fluids, and ensuring that any contaminated equipment or surfaces are properly disinfected.
2. Needlestick precautions: Healthcare workers should use disposable syringes and needles to minimize the risk of accidental needlestick injuries.
3. Post-exposure treatment: In the event of exposure to the virus from an infected patient, post-exposure treatment may be used, including hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and vaccination, to reduce the risk of infection.
4. Environmental precautions: The virus can remain infective on surfaces for up to seven days, so proper disinfection and sterilization protocols should be followed to prevent transmission.