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Who should receive Standard Precautions?

Standard Precautions apply to every patient in every healthcare setting, whether or not infection is suspected.

Which materials are treated as potentially infectious under Standard Precautions?

Treat blood, body fluids other than sweat, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious.

How should PPE be selected for a task?

Assess the task and likely exposure. Use gloves for possible contact with blood or body fluids; add a gown and face or eye protection when splashing or contamination is anticipated.

Do gloves replace hand hygiene?

No. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.

When should hands be cleaned before patient care?

Clean hands before touching a patient and before performing an aseptic task.

What should you do when moving from a contaminated to a clean site on one patient?

Clean hands when moving from a contaminated body site to a clean site on the same patient.

When should you use hand rub versus soap and water?

Use alcohol-based hand rub for most routine care when hands are not visibly soiled, and rub all surfaces until dry. Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.

What route of spread calls for Contact Precautions?

Contact Precautions address spread by direct contact with a patient or indirect contact through the patient’s environment. Typical measures include a gown and gloves for relevant interactions and dedicated equipment when possible.

When are Droplet Precautions considered?

Droplet Precautions address respiratory droplets, such as those produced by coughing or sneezing. Typical measures include wearing a mask on room entry and masking the patient during medically necessary transport if tolerated.

When are Airborne Precautions considered?

Airborne Precautions address infectious particles that can remain in the air over distance. Use an airborne infection isolation room when available; personnel wear a fit-tested NIOSH-approved N95 or higher-level respirator.

How do Transmission-Based Precautions relate to Standard Precautions?

Use Standard Precautions for every patient, then add Contact, Droplet, Airborne, or a combination when the suspected or confirmed infection requires extra measures.

Should warranted precautions wait until test results are available?

Begin appropriate precautions promptly when the likely infection presents a transmission risk; do not wait for test results if precautions are warranted.