Article Figures & Data
Figures
- FIGURE 1.
Modes of pathogen transmission. Microbe transmission occurs via 2 primary pathways: direct and indirect.
Tables
Parameter Sequence Donning Select appropriate PPE for patient interaction Perform hand hygiene using 60%–95% alcohol-based hand rub Put on isolation gown and tie all gown ties; put on NIOSH-approved N95 FFR or face mask if N95 is not available Put on face shield or goggles Put on gloves Enter patient room or initiate care procedure Doffing Remove gloves Remove gown Exit patient room or care procedure area; perform hand hygiene using 60%–95% alcohol-based hand rub Remove face shield or goggles Remove and discard face mask or FFR Perform hand hygiene after removing FFR/face mask and before putting on again if facility practicing equipment reuses NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- TABLE 2
Methods for Sanitizing Gloved Hands for Extended Use of Disposable Medical Gloves ( 12,19 )
Method Recommendation Notes Alcohol-based hand sanitizer Preferred method when gloves (latex or nitrile) are not soiled Can be disinfected up to 6 times Soap and water Best use with long cuffed gloves Can be cleaned with soap and water up to 10 times Diluted bleach solution Use 10%–13% bleach solution; dip gloved hands in solution for 5 s; allow solution to remain for 1 min; rinse with water and dry with clean cloth Can be disinfected in bleach solution up to 10 times - TABLE 3
Low-Level Disinfection for Noncritical Equipment and Surfaces (Exposure Time ≥ 1 Minute) ( 20,21 )
Germicide Use concentration Ethyl or isopropyl alcohol 70%–90% Chlorine 100 ppm (1:500 dilution) Phenolic Manufacturer’s recommendation Iodophor Manufacturer’s recommendation Quaternary ammonium Manufacturer’s recommendation Improved hydrogen peroxide 0.5%, 1.4% Pathogen survival on dry, inanimate surfaces ( 22 ) COVID-19 survival on surfaces* ( 23 ) Pathogen Survival time Surface Survival time C. difficile (spores) >5 mo Glass 5 d Escherichia coli 1.5 h–1.3 y Wood 4 d Vancomycin-resistant or -susceptible enterococci 5 d–4 mo Plastic and stainless steel 3 d S. aureus 7 d–7 mo Cardboard 24 h Streptococcus pneumoniae 1–20 d Copper 4 h Hepatitis B 2 h–60 d Adenovirus 7 d–3 mo Influenza virus 1–2 d Respiratory syncytial virus ≤6 h Coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome, gastrointestinal, cold) 3–28 d *Amount of live virus decreases over time on surfaces; risk of infection from touching something that had virus on it for a few days (or even a few hours) would be less.
