Halls of Residence Infection Control Policy

Document Number	000538

Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control for Blood Borne Pathogens

Attechment 8

1.      Level of Risk

The level of risk of exposure to infection by Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV and other blood borne pathogens for residents and staff in Halls and Colleges is no different from that encountered by the remainder of the University community who live in shared privately owned accommodation and whose activities do not include patient contact and who do nothandle blood or other body substances. The prevention of transmission of blood/body fluid borne pathogens through sexual activity or sharing of needles and drug injecting equipment is a matter of individual responsibility.

2. Communal Living: Risk of Infection

2.1.     Social Contact and Sharing of Bathrooms

There is no evidence to suggest that Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV are transmitted by such modes as casual social contact, sharing of crockery, toilets and showers, water fountains, coughing and sneezing.
To minimise transmission of pathogens individuals must not share personal care items such as toothbrushes or razors.

Halls of Residence make condoms freely available, and there are sanitary disposal units in toilet areas as part of the implementation of a responsible infection control policy.

2.2.     Accidental Blood Spills

Attachment 9 of these Guidelines covers the management of blood spills.

2.3.     Contaminated Glass/Sharps

Persons using a sharp object are responsible for its safe handling and disposal.
Provision will be made for the immediate disposal of blood contaminated broken glass or sharps into a puncture-resistant leak-proof container labelled with a biohazard label.

2.4.     Sports Injuries

For advice relating to sports injuries, reference should be made to the Australian Sports Medicine Federation's guidelines (refer Attachment 7).

2.5.     Laundries and Bloodstained/Soiled Linen

Although linen soiled with blood or body substances has never been documented as a source of pathogen transmission, standard precautions apply when handling such linen.

• Guidelines for Management of the Linen in the Community

Linen that is bloodstained should be washed in a household washing machine, rinsing initially in a cold rinse and then a hot wash cycle at 80oC with normal washing powder containing bleach.

Overloading of the machine must be avoided.

If washing by hand household gloves must be worn.

• Guidelines for the Management of Supplied Linen

Clean and used linen must be stored separately and processed in a hygienic manner.

All used linen must be bagged at its location point; linen bags should only be 3/4 filled and must be secured prior to transportation.

All linen must be checked for sharps prior to bagging for laundry.

All linen contaminated with body substances must be stored in bags that prevent leakage.

Double bagging of linen is not necessary.

To reduce the risk of contact with body substances, all workers handling linen, including laundry staff, must wear protective attire such as gloves, aprons or gowns.

3.      Cleaning of Residential Areas

Household cleaning procedures are adequate for cleaning environmental surfaces such as walls, floors, curtains and blinds.

Appendix 1 provides guidelines on the precautions to follow in relation to contact with human blood and will be made available to residents and staff.

Approval Authority	Vice-Chancellor
Policy Sponsor	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Services)
Policy Owner	Academic Registrar
Policy Contact	Director, Health Service