Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)
Before undertaking any care task or procedure, staff should assess any likely exposure to blood and/or body fluids and ensure PPE is worn that provides adequate protection against the risks associated with the procedure or task being undertaken. SICPs may be insufficient to prevent cross transmission of specific infectious agents. Therefore additional precautions (Transmission Based Precautions (TBPs) are required to be used by staff when caring for patients with a known or suspected infection or colonisation. This includes choosing the appropriate PPE based on the suspected or known infectious agent, the transmission route of the infectious agent and the care setting and procedures undertaken.