Infection Control in Dialysis Units Flashcards

What does 'standard precautions' require in a dialysis setting?

Answer: Treating all blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious regardless of patient diagnosis

Standard precautions apply universally to all patients. This includes hand hygiene, appropriate PPE (gloves for blood/fluid contact, gown/eye protection when splash risk exists), safe needle handling, and environmental cleaning.

What is the purpose of dedicated supplies (e.g., non-shared supply trays) in dialysis units?

Answer: To prevent cross-contamination between patients by ensuring supplies touched by one patient are not used for another

Shared supply carts and trays are a known route for cross-contamination in dialysis units, particularly for HBV. Each patient station should have dedicated, single-use supplies that are not returned to the common supply area once brought to the station.

A needlestick injury occurs during hemodialysis. What is the correct immediate first aid step?

Answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water immediately

Immediate thorough washing with soap and water is the first step for a needlestick injury. Mucous membrane exposures should be flushed with water. Report to occupational health immediately for baseline testing and post-exposure prophylaxis evaluation.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is detected in a dialysis patient. What precautions should be implemented?

Answer: Contact precautions: gown and gloves for all interactions, dedicated equipment, and enhanced environmental cleaning

MRSA requires contact precautions because it is transmitted primarily by direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces and colonized patients. Gown and gloves reduce transmission, along with enhanced cleaning of the patient's station.

What is the minimum recommended frequency for cleaning and disinfecting dialysis machine surfaces during a patient treatment?

Answer: Immediately after any blood or body fluid contamination occurs during the session

While machines are fully disinfected between patients, any blood or fluid contamination occurring during a treatment must be cleaned immediately using an EPA-registered disinfectant. This prevents environmental contamination that could affect staff or subsequent patients.

Why must HBV-positive hemodialysis patients be treated in a separate room or area with dedicated machines?

Answer: Because HBV is highly stable in the environment and routine disinfection may be insufficient to prevent transmission via shared equipment or surfaces

HBV's environmental stability (7 days on surfaces) and high infectivity (10,000 virions per mL of blood) make it transmissible even with standard disinfection. Dedicated machines and separation prevent the cluster outbreaks that occurred in dialysis units before these policies were established.