What are the commonly used disposable items at a General Practice (GP)?

Commonly Used Disposable Items at a General Practice

General practices routinely use disposable gloves, masks, protective eyewear, gowns/aprons, needles, syringes, and various single-use medical instruments to prevent cross-contamination between patients and protect healthcare workers from infectious materials.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gloves

• Non-sterile examination gloves must be worn for contact with mucous membranes, non-intact skin, and all activities carrying risk of exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions 1
• Gloves should be single-use items, put on immediately before patient contact and removed as soon as the activity is completed 1
• Change gloves between patients and between different procedures on the same patient 1
• Latex-free gloves must be available for staff or patients with allergies 1
• Hands must be washed or decontaminated after glove removal, as gloves can become perforated during use 1, 2

Masks and Face Protection

• Surgical masks with face shields should be worn when there is risk of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions splashing into the face and eyes 1
• Masks should be changed between patients or if they become wet or contaminated 1
• Masks must only be handled by the ties to avoid contamination 1

Protective Clothing

• Disposable gowns or plastic aprons should be worn when there is risk of physical soiling of clothing to prevent transmission of infection between patients 1
• Fluid-impermeable gowns or aprons are required during procedures likely to generate splashes 1
• Contaminated clothing should be changed and safely discarded at the earliest opportunity 1

Injection and Medication Supplies

Needles and Syringes

• Single-use disposable syringes and needles must be used for one patient only and never reused, even if the needle is changed 1
• Used needles should never be recapped using both hands 1
• Place used needles and syringes in appropriate puncture-resistant containers located as close as practical to the area of use 1, 3
• Bending or breaking needles before disposal is not recommended as it requires unnecessary manipulation 1

Medication Vials

• Use single-dose vials for parenteral medications when possible 1
• Never combine leftover contents of single-use vials for later use 1
• For multidose vials, cleanse the access diaphragm with 70% alcohol before inserting a device, and use a sterile needle and syringe each time 1

Clinical Examination Items

Single-Use Instruments

• Disposable items such as tongue depressors, cotton swabs, examination drapes, and specimen collection devices should be used for one patient only and discarded appropriately 1
• These items are neither designed nor intended to be cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized for reuse 1

Wound Care Supplies

• Disposable dressings, gauze, bandages, and adhesive strips are single-use items 1
• Waterproof dressings must be changed as appropriate when covering abrasions or skin breaks 1

Specimen Handling

Collection Containers

• Biopsy specimens should be placed in sturdy, leakproof containers labeled with the biohazard symbol 1
• If a specimen container is visibly contaminated, clean and disinfect the outside or place it in an impervious bag labeled with the biohazard symbol 1
• Disposable specimen collection cups and containers should be used once and discarded 1

Hand Hygiene Supplies

Disposable Towels

• Disposable towels are preferred for hand-drying and should always be available and within easy reach 1
• Use the towel to turn off the faucet after handwashing 1
• Disposable manicure sticks should be used for cleaning fingernails before invasive procedures 1

Critical Safety Considerations

Common pitfalls to avoid:

• Never reuse items labeled as single-use, as this violates manufacturer recommendations and legal requirements 1
• Do not "top off" partially empty soap or lotion dispensers; use disposable closed containers or containers that can be washed and dried before refilling 1
• Avoid wearing the same gloves for multiple patient contacts, as this has been documented in up to 718 observed instances in one study, representing a major infection control breach 4
• Remove all barrier protection (gloves, mask, eyewear, gown) before departing the work area to prevent environmental contamination 1

The availability and proper use of these disposable items directly impacts patient safety and healthcare worker protection, with studies showing that routine glove use alone could prevent 98% of anaesthetists' contact with patients' blood 1.