Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1515580
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies have added protocols to limit direct, indirect, and airborne exposures to pathogens. The same precautions are not listed for all situations, though; recommendations vary according to settings. The rules for dealing with a hospital patient under isolation for a dangerous and contagious disease are different from those for patients at a walk-in outpatient clinic. This f lexibility is practical, given that health care is practiced in many different settings. But it has also given rise to some confusion about best practices for various health-care professions. To date, no specific protocols have been published by any governing body for massage therapists or massage therapy schools. This makes sense because massage is practiced in so many different settings and with many different types of clients. While some hygienic practices should be followed in every setting every time (e.g., changing sheets, washing hands, etc.), other details may vary depending on whether the massage session is offered in a hospital, outpatient clinic, spa, or home office. I suggest visiting the Standard Precautions page on the CDC website, specifically the sections on hand hygiene, PPE, respiratory and cough etiquette, equipment and devices, environmental surfaces, and textiles and laundry for the information most relevant to massage therapy practice. BEYOND STANDARD PRECAUTIONS FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS In addition to these Standard Precautions, I have three suggestions. Hand Cleaning Stations I recommend the institution of hand cleaning stations in massage therapy sessions for clients and other staff—not for massage therapists, who must use warm running water and antimicrobial liquid soap. Foot-Operated Trash Cans These allow contaminated tissues and other debris to be discarded easily and separated from the rest of the environment. Air Quality Maintenance Given what we learned about COVID-19 and other airborne infections, massage therapists should invest in air purifiers that are the right size and power for their workspace. This not only reduces the risk of infection, but it also lessens the impact of allergens, smoke, perfume, or other air contaminants. Air quality control has not yet appeared as a part of Standard Precautions for most health- care settings, but this is one place we can raise the bar for ourselves, our clients, and our profession. Note 1. Ian M. Broussard and Chad I. Kahwaji, Universal Precautions (Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing, 2024), www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/ NBK470223. Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (available at booksofdiscovery.com), now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at ruthwerner.com. A B M P m e m b e r s ea r n F R E E C E h o u r s by rea d i n g t h i s i s s u e ! 59 Find Out More Douedi, S. and H. Douedi. Precautions, Bloodborne, Contact, and Droplet. Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing, September 4, 2023. www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/books/NBK551555. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Standard Precautions for All Patient Care." Last modifi ed January 26, 2016. www.cdc.gov/ infectioncontrol/basics/ standard-precautions.html. Segal, Phenelle. "The Evolution of Isolation Precautions." March 19, 2018. www. infectioncontroltoday.com/view/ evolution-isolation-precautions. US Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Bloodborne Pathogens." Accessed January 22, 2024. www.osha. gov/laws-regs/regulations/ standardnumber/1910/1910.1030. WATCH, LEARN, AND EARN CE "HYGIENE: CRITICAL UPDATES FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS"