Sterile Procedures

LESSON 5: Isolation

5-6

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5-6. EQUIPMENT

a. Sphygmomanometer and Stethoscope. When indicated, this equipment should be kept in the isolation area for use with the patient throughout his hospitalization. After the patient is discharged, these instruments should be disinfected in the manner as appropriate based upon the type of agent that required the isolation.

b. Needles and Syringes. Because of the impossibility of knowing which patients' blood may be contaminated with hepatitis virus or other microorganisms, extreme caution must be applied in handling used needles and syringes whether in isolation or not.

(1) Disposable needles and syringes are available and should be used for patients in isolation. They must not be reused. Used needles need not be recapped; they should be placed in a prominently labeled, impervious, puncture-resistant container designated specifically for this purpose. Needles should not be purposely bent because accidental needle puncture may occur. Place used syringes in an impervious bag. Both of these containers should be incinerated or autoclaved and then discarded.

 

(2) Reusable needles and syringes should be rinsed thoroughly in cold water after use. The needle should be placed in a puncture-resistant rigid container. Syringes and needles should be wrapped using double-bag technique and returned for decontamination and sterilization.

c. Urinals and Bedpans. Urine and feces should be flushed down the toilet when the hospital uses a municipal or other safe sewage treatment system. A urinal and/or bedpan, if needed, should be issued to and used by only one patient until decontaminated and resterilized. Autoclaving is the most reliable decontamination system. Steam hoppers do not sterilize these utensils and may even create bacterial or viral aerosols. Disposable urinals and bedpans are available and may be used for patients in isolation. They should be disposed of in the same manner as dressings and paper tissues.

d. Thermometers. Special precautions with nondisposable thermometers are needed for certain categories of isolation. In these instances, the thermometer remains in the patient's room in a container with disinfectant prepared according to local SOP. Every three days, the disinfectant is flushed down the toilet and the container washed, dried, and refilled. Thermometers should be rinsed in cold water before and after use.

(1) Oral thermometers may be kept dry instead of soaking in a disinfectant solution. Before each use, however, they should be washed with soap and water and wiped with 70 to 90 percent alcohol.

 

(2) Upon discharge of the patient, nondisposable thermometers should be wrapped and sent to Central Supply for sterilization.

 

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