1 Standard Precautions
Learn when Standard Precautions apply, what infection-prevention practices they include, and how to select PPE based on the task and anticipated exposure.
Purpose and application
are used during all patient care, in every healthcare setting, whether or not a patient has a known or suspected infection. They reduce the spread of infectious agents and protect both patients and healthcare personnel.
Their purpose includes reducing transmission in both directions: from patients to healthcare personnel and from personnel or the care environment to patients.
The infection-prevention principle
Treat blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, , and mucous membranes as potentially infectious. Sweat is excluded in most circumstances.
This principle applies even when a patient has no diagnosed infection. A diagnosis or visible symptoms are not prerequisites for using .
Routine prevention practices
include several routine practices:
.
Risk-based use of .
Safe injection and medication practices.
Respiratory hygiene.
Environmental cleaning and disinfection.
Appropriate handling and reprocessing of patient-care equipment.
Careful handling of textiles and laundry.
These practices are used alongside task-specific selection. does not replace .
Assess the task and choose
Before each task, assess the contact or splash that may occur, then choose practices and accordingly. is selected for the task, not simply because a patient is present. The same full is not automatically required for every task, and gloves are not required for every interaction when no exposure is anticipated.
For example, gloves may be appropriate when contact with blood is anticipated. If clothing or mucous membranes could be exposed to splashes, a gown and eye or face protection may also be needed. If blood may splash toward a worker’s face and contaminate clothing, the choice should protect those areas as well as include appropriate gloves.
If a task involves no anticipated contact with blood or body fluids, gloves may not be needed for that task. Other , including , still apply. Follow facility policy and any additional precautions indicated by the patient’s situation.
and skin protection
Perform at the appropriate times, including immediately after removing gloves. Gloves do not replace , and should not be omitted because gloves were worn.
When a worker has a cut, protect the and assess the task and anticipated exposure. The patient’s infection diagnosis alone does not determine whether precautions are needed.