What this means for visitors
This page explains how simple, deliberate infection controls keep clinical care safe at home, with the nurse and family each playing a part. Before the visit, disclose relevant fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, respiratory symptoms, known infection precautions, recent exposure and household outbreaks.
Share infection information before entry
Tell the provider about symptoms, confirmed infections, isolation advice, recent exposure and vulnerable household members. The provider can assess timing, staff precautions and whether another clinical route is required.
Agree how the nurse enters, where outer belongings stay and who keeps pets or visitors away. Maintain ventilation suitable for the task without directing a fan across a clean procedure field.
- Relevant symptoms
- Known precautions
- Vulnerable household members
- Controlled entry
Create clean process rather than a perfect room
Choose a stable washable surface with good light, nearby handwashing and enough space to separate sealed supplies, the active clean field and used items. Remove food, drinks, plants, ash, unnecessary textiles and clutter.
The nurse should clean hands before and after patient or device contact and after glove removal, following task requirements. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene and must change when moving from contaminated to clean work.
- Washable surface
- Separate zones
- Appropriate hand hygiene
- Correct glove changes
Close the procedure safely
Seal dressings, body-fluid waste and sharps according to the agreed local and provider route. Clean reusable equipment using the product and clinical instructions, observing contact time and drying. Store it away from children, pets and household chemicals.
Record breaches such as a dropped sterile item, splash, needlestick, damaged package or incorrect storage and use the responsible exposure or clinical pathway. Monitor patient-specific infection signs rather than relying on smell or appearance alone.
- Waste and sharps route
- Equipment cleaning method
- Exposure response
- Patient-specific monitoring
Primary sources
These sources support the general principles on this page. The individual treating team’s instructions take priority.
- World Health Organization: Hand hygiene and infection preventionInternational · infection-prevention guidance
- World Health Organization: Standard precautions in health careInternational · infection-prevention guidance
- Nursing Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia: Registration and Annual Practising Certificate (APC)Malaysia · regulator guidance
- Nursing Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia: Acts and guidelines for nursing practiceMalaysia · regulator guidance
- World Health Organization: Infection prevention and controlInternational or source jurisdiction; general principles only · authoritative public guidance
- World Health Organization: Patient safetyInternational or source jurisdiction; general principles only · authoritative public guidance
Sources checked: 2026-08-02