People who live or work in homes and home-like settings should practice good hygiene techniques in preparing food, handling body fluids and medical equipment. Cuts, accidents, or other circumstances can result in spills of blood/OPIM. These spills may be deposited on carpeting, vinyl flooring, clothing, on a person's skin, or other surfaces. It is important that everyone, even young children, have a basic understanding that they should not put their bare hands in, or on, another person's blood. This section outlines practices for some commonly encountered situations.

Gloves

Gloves are available in latex, nitrile or vinyl. Some people have allergies to latex.
Gloves should be worn when caretakers anticipate direct contact with any body substances (blood or OPIM) or non-intact skin.
When you are through, carefully pull the gloves off, inside-out, one at a time, so that the contaminated surfaces are inside and you avoid contact with any potentially infectious material.
Gloves should be changed, and hands washed as soon as possible between children, patients, etc.
Never rub the eyes, mouth or face while wearing gloves.
Latex gloves should never be washed and reused.

Hand-washing Technique

Correct hand-washing is extremely important. The steps to follow for good hand-washing technique include:

Use soap, warm (almost hot) water, and good friction, making sure to scrub the top, back, and all sides of the fingers.
Lather well and rinse for at least 10 seconds. When rinsing, begin at the fingertips, so that the dirty water runs down and off the hands from the wrists. It is preferable to use a pump-type of liquid soap instead of bar hand soap.
Dry hands on paper towels. Use the dry paper towels to turn off the faucets (don't touch with clean hands).

A waterless hand-washing product should be available for immediate use if a suitable sink is not readily available in the home or work setting. This product does not replace proper hand-washing with soap and water. Refer to the manufacturer's directions for use.

People who have been exposed to body fluids should wash their hands BEFORE, as well as after, using the toilet.

The paper towel that was used to dry the hands should be used to open the bathroom door, if possible, before disposing of the towel.

Precautions with Personal Hygiene Items

People should NOT share razors, toothbrushes, personal towels or washcloths, dental hygiene tools, vibrators, enema equipment or other personal care items.
Cleaning Blood/OPIM on Skin.

Cleaning Blood/OPIM on Skin.

Wear appropriate gloves. Use sterile gauze or other bandages, and follow normal first-aid techniques to stop the bleeding. After applying the bandage, remove the gloves slowly, so that fluid particles do not splatter or become aerosolized. Hands should be washed using good technique as soon as possible.

Cleaning Body Fluid Spills on Vinyl Floors

Any broken glass should be swept up using a broom and dustpan, (never bare hands!) Empty the dustpan in a well-marked plastic bag or heavy-duty container. The body fluid spill may be pre- treated with full-strength liquid disinfectant or detergent. Next, wipe up the body fluid spill with either a mop and hot, soapy water, or appropriate gloves and paper towels. Dispose of the paper towels in the plastic bag. Use a good disinfectant (e.g., household bleach usually 5.25%–6.15% sodium hypochlorite mixed fresh with water 1:10) to disinfect the area that the spill occurred. If a mop was used for the cleaning, soak it in a bucket of hot water and disinfectant for the recommended time. Empty the mop bucket water in the toilet, rather than a sink. Sponges and mops used to clean up body fluid spills should not be rinsed out in the kitchen sink, or in a location where food is prepared.

Cleaning Body Fluid Spills on Carpeting

Pour dry kitty litter or other absorbent material on the spill to absorb the body fluid. Then pour full-strength liquid detergent on the carpet, which helps to disinfect the area. If there are pieces of broken glass present, the broom and dustpan method can be used next to sweep up the kitty litter and visible broken glass. Use carpet-safe liquid disinfectant instead of diluted bleach on the carpeting. Pour this carefully on the entire contaminated area; let it remain there for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Follow this by absorbing the spill with paper towels and sturdy rubber gloves. Vacuum normally afterwards.

Any debris, paper towels, or soiled kitty litter should be disposed of in a sealed plastic bag that has been placed inside another plastic garbage bag. Twist and seal the top of the second bag as well.

Cleaning Clothes or Other Laundry in Home Settings

Clothes, washable uniforms, towels or other laundry that have been stained with blood/OPIM should be cleaned and disinfected before further use. If possible, have the person remove the clothing, or use appropriate gloves to assist with removing the clothes. If it is a distance to the washing machine, transport the soiled clothing items in a strong plastic bag. Next, place the items in the washing machine, and soak or wash the items in cold, soapy water to remove any blood from the fabric. Hot water permanently sets blood stains. Use hot soapy water for the next washing cycle, and include sufficient detergent, which will act as a disinfectant, in the water. Dry the items using a clothes dryer. Wool clothing or uniforms may be rinsed with cold soapy water and then dry cleaned to remove and disinfect the stain. Place the plastic bag used to transport the soiled clothing into another plastic bag, being careful not to touch the surface of the bag that was exposed to the clothing. Dispose of the bag as described in the previous paragraph.

Diaper Changes

Care providers should use a new pair of appropriate gloves to change diapers. Gloves should be removed carefully and discarded in the appropriate receptacle. Hands should be washed immediately after changing the diaper. Disinfect the diapering surface afterwards. Cloth diapers should be washed in very hot water with detergent and a cup of bleach, and dried in a hot clothes dryer.

Cleaning Sponges and Mops

Sponges and mops that are used in a kitchen should not be used to clean body fluid spills or bathrooms. All sponges and mops should be disinfected routinely with a fresh bleach solution or another similar disinfectant.

Toilet/Bedpan Safety

It is safe to share toilets/toilet seats without special cleaning, unless the surface becomes contaminated with blood/OPIM. If this occurs, disinfect the surface by spraying on a solution of 1:10 bleach. Wearing gloves, wipe this away with disposable paper towels. Persons with open sores on their legs, thighs, or genitals should disinfect the toilet seat after each use.

Urinals and bedpans should not be shared between family members, unless they are thoroughly disinfected beforehand.

Thermometers

Electronic thermometers with disposable covers do not need to be cleaned between users, unless they are visibly soiled. Wipe the surface with a disinfectant solution if necessary. Glass thermometers should be washed with soap and warm water before and after each use. If it will be shared between family members, the thermometer should be soaked in 70-90% ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes, and then rinsed under a stream of warm water between each use.

Pet Care Precautions

Certain animals may be health hazards for people with compromised immune systems. These animals include turtles, reptiles, birds, puppies and kittens under the age of eight months, wild animals, pets without current immunizations, and pets with illnesses of unknown origin.

Pet cages and cat litter boxes can harbor infectious, sometimes aerosolized organisms. These pet items should be cared for only by someone who is not immunocompromised.

If this is not possible, a mask with a sealable nose clip, and disposable latex gloves should be worn each time pet care is done if people living with HIV are likely to be exposed to the possible sources of disease causing agents. Follow all pet care with thorough hand-washing.

Some of these diseases may be passed to an immunocompromised person by an animal licking their face or open wounds. Wash hands after stroking or other contact with pets. Keep cats' and dogs' nails trimmed. Wear latex gloves to clean up a pet's urine, feces, vomit, etc. The soiled area should be cleaned with a fresh solution of 1:10 bleach.

Pet food and water bowls should be regularly washed in warm, soapy water, and then rinsed. Cat litter boxes should be emptied out regularly and washed at least monthly.

Fish tanks should be kept clean. It is possible to order disposable latex "calf-birthing" gloves from a veterinarian for immuno-compromised individuals. These gloves should offer protection from the organisms that are present in the fish tank.

Do not let your pet drink from the toilet; eat other animal's feces, or any type of dead animal or garbage. It is best to restrict cats to the indoors only. Dogs should be kept indoors or on a leash.

Many communities have volunteer groups and veterinarians that will assist people with HIV take care of their pets, if needed. Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian with your questions.

Kitchen Safety and Proper Food Preparation Skills

HIV does not live long outside the body and cannot be acquired by touching surfaces unless they are contaminated with blood or other hazardous materials as explained in previous sections. Kitchen hygiene for persons with HIV disease are the same as for healthy individuals, but people with HIV are more susceptible to unsterilized or spoiled food products.

Wash hands thoroughly before preparing food.
Use care when tasting food. Use a clean spoon to taste food. Wash the spoon after using it once.
Persons with HIV infection should avoid unpasteurized milk, raw eggs or products that contain raw eggs, raw fish, and cracked or non-intact eggs. Cook all meat, eggs and fish thoroughly to kill any organisms that may be present in them. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Disinfect countertops, stoves, sinks, refrigerators, door handles and floors regularly. Use window screens to prevent insects from entering the room.
Discard food that has expired or is past a safe storage date, shows signs of mold or smells bad.
Use separate cutting boards for meat and for fruits and vegetables. Disinfect cutting boards frequently. Avoid wood cutting boards if possible.
Kitchen garbage should be contained in a leak-proof, washable receptacle that is lined with a plastic bag. Seal the garbage liner bags and remove the garbage frequently.