Infection control procedures are important in labor rooms to minimize the spread of infections. The document outlines several procedures for admitting infectious patients including screening, isolation precautions, and notifying the NICU. It also describes cleaning and disinfection procedures for surfaces, equipment, and rooms after each patient use to control infection. Personal protective equipment and attire is required along with staff training on infection control practices.

2.  Infection – The entry and development of disease
producing agent in the body.
 Infection control – Infection control refers to
policies and procedures used to minimize the risk
of spreading infections, especially in hospitals and
human and health care facilities.

3. PROCEDURES
1. ADMISSION OF PATIENTS
 Assessment should be done.
 Infectious patients should be admitted to the private
labor room.
 Screening of the patients.
 Strict isolation precautions.
 Patient care items must be labeled to eliminate cross
contamination

4.  Patient should be admitted to private room.
 Patient should be informed of why they are being
isolated .
 Garbage receptacles will be placed within limits of
the patient’s room, covered and bagged with red
biohazard bags.
 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) should be
notified regarding the status of the labor patient
suspected of confirmed contagious disease.
 If known or suspected contagious disease refer to the
appropriate guidelines.

5.  All health care personnel are required to adhere to
Standard Precautions.
 Participate in at least one Infection Control in-
service.
 Pre-employment physical annual assessment.
 Employee Health-
◦ - All personnel infectious disease should have no
direct patient contact.
◦ - Reported to Employee Health Service and
treatment begun.

6.  Orientation related to general hospital procedure and
specific unit procedures is provided, including
personal hygiene and hand washing.
 Periodic in-services related to infection control shall
be held and as needed.
ATTIRE
 wear a clean scrub pants and top.
 Scrub attire, which is visibly soiled, must be
changed.

7.  Personal protection equipment such as
shielded mask/goggles, gowns and gloves will
be available and utilized .
 When entering the restricted area operating
room –
-All head and facial hair must be covered.
-Shoe covers should be worn .
-A mask must be worn

8. 1. Birthing Rooms:
- Personnel will abide by the visitation regulations.
- Visitors should report to the nurses when a patient is
on precautions.
- Visitors are discouraged from visiting patients .
2. Operating Room:
- Use Safe Zone sharp handing
- No unauthorized person may go beyond the OR suite
doors.
- No greater than ten persons will be allowed in a
single OR except in cases of multiple
births, emergency situations.

9.  Operating room door to remain closed at all times.
 Coaches wear scrub dress or pants and top, cap, mask
and shoe covers prior to entering the Operating room.
 Cord blood samples are obtained by needless
technique and sent to the laboratory.
Recovery Room:
 Patients will be transported via a Recovery Room cart
or wheelchair from the Recovery room to the
Mother-Baby Unit.
 Delivery area and cleaned with hospital-approved
disinfectant.

10.  Identification, collection, segregation, handling, storing
, transporting and the disposal of infectious waste is
managed in a safe and responsible manner.
 Dirty equipment is to be taken to the dirty utility room
after each patient use and cleaned by designated
personnel with a hospital approved disinfectant.
 Hand soap and paper towels will be available at all
sinks.
 Access to storage area is limited to department
personnel.

11.  All soiled linen, equipment; utensils and
garbage are handled as contaminated and
appropriately managed.
 Linen is changed as necessary and between
patients.
 A hospital-approved disinfectant/cleaner is
used to wipe down non-critical equipment.
 Disposable speculums are single patient use
devices.

12. Labor Rooms and Birth Rooms -
 All furniture in the labor rooms andbirth rooms will be
thoroughly cleaned (bed, Intravenous poles, bedside
table and stand, chairs, bathroom, sink, counter tops and
toilet) with hospital approved disinfectant.
 Cycle cleaning of the labor rooms and birth rooms will
be completed as stated in an Environment Services
Manual.
 The appropriate personnel following each patient contact
will clean monitoring equipment.

13.  Sharps containers are to be changed when ¾ full.
 The counter top and sink areas are to be wiped
clean every shift by the Environmental Services.
 The floor is to be mopped once a shift by
Environmental Services.
RECOVERY ROOM
 Each patient cart will be thoroughly cleaned with
hospital approved disinfectant by Housekeeping
after the patient is transferred.
 Horizontal surfaces (except ceiling) will be
cleaned with hospital approved disinfectant daily.

14.  Counter surfaces will be cleaned daily with
hospital approved disinfectant.
 The floors will be swept and mopped every
day and trash emptied by the Housekeeping
Department.
 There shall be no food or beverage at the
nurse’s station.

15. Hospital are notorious sources of
infection, which can be resistant to antibiotic
treatment. Control of infection and other
communicable condition is important in labor
room.