Infection Control Manual, Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions
	Introduction
	Transmission-Based Precautions
	Hand Hygiene
	Barrier Protection
	Sharps Disposal
	Patient Placement
	Patient Transport
	Food and Nutrition
	Lab Specimens
	Housekeeping
	Medical Waste
	Patient/Visitor Exposures
	Linen/Laundry Services
	Medical Emergencies

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Yale New Haven Hospital
QISS
GB 325
New Haven, CT
06504 USA

Dr. Jeff Topal
688-4634


Food and Nutrition

Meals and nutritional supplements will be delivered by Food Services personnel to all patients except those on Airborne Precautions. (Refer to procedures regarding the distribution of food trays and nourishments to patients on Airborne Precautions).

	Disposable dishware, utensils, and trays are not required for any patient for infection control purposes.
	Food trays and nutritional supplements will not be delivered by Food Services personnel to patients who have bedpans or urinals on their over-the-bed tables. These trays will be returned to the food truck, and the nursing staff will be notified.

The food trays of all patients will be retrieved by Food Service personnel except for those patients on Airborne Precautions. In addition, food trays will not be picked up if they:

	Contain any patient care equipment or instruments, (e.g. gauze dressings, needles, and syringes, etc). Nursing personnel are responsible for ensuring that all patient care items are removed from the food tray before it is returned to the food truck.
	Are contaminated with visible evidence of blood or other body substances.

In the rare event that dishes, utensils, or food trays are contaminated by blood or bloody drainage, return the items to Central Sterile Supply (CSS) for reprocessing, using the following procedure:

	Place the items in a "decontamination" bag.
	Close the bag tightly using a tie.
	Fill out an "F-9 Requisition" form and attach it to the bag.
	Remove the bagged items from the area for return to CSS where they will be reprocessed.

Last modified: September 30, 2002.