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Infection Control

Disclaimer: Law, rules and regulations, not Guidelines, specify the requirements for practice and violating them constitutes professional misconduct. Not adhering to this Guideline may be interpreted as professional misconduct only if the conduct also violates pertinent law, rules and regulations.

The Rules of the Board of Regents on unprofessional conduct, Section 29.2(a) (13), require that Infection Control standards be followed by occupational therapy professionals.

General infection control procedures include:

  • Wearing protective gloves, masks, gowns, eyewear and face shields whenever splashing or spattering of blood or other body fluids is likely to occur.
  • Thorough hand washing with soap and water before and after client contact is required.
  • When hand washing is not available, use antiseptic alcohol-based hand gels. Guidelines outlined on the gel product label, regarding the number of times the gel can be effectively used should be followed.
  • All equipment and devices used with clients must be cleaned and disinfected following each client contact or when otherwise contaminated with bodily fluids.

Practitioners in all practice settings should follow accepted universal infection control procedures to protect themselves and their clients when the practitioner's interactions with clients may include exposure to blood, blood products, excretions, secretions and tissues as well as surfaces and materials exposed to those substances. Infection control precautions should also be used when working with clients who have open wounds, lesions and or non-intact skin. A health care provider who has non-intact skin, open wounds or lesions must keep them covered at all times when working with clients and must follow infection control procedures.

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