Which statement about standard precautions is true?

Which statement about standard precautions is true?

• A. They are used only for contagious diseases.
• B. They apply to all patients, regardless of infection status.
• C. They require negative pressure rooms.
• D. They require full airborne PPE for all patients.

Answer: (B)

Standard precautions are the baseline safety practices used with every patient to prevent transmission of infections, regardless of whether an infection is suspected. This universal approach means hand hygiene is performed with all patient contact, gloves are worn when touching blood or body fluids or contaminated surfaces, and appropriate PPE (gown, mask, eye protection) is used based on the procedure and exposure risk, along with safe injection practices and proper equipment handling. Negative pressure rooms and full airborne PPE are not part of standard precautions; those are specific to airborne isolation when a patient has or may have an airborne infection. Therefore, the true statement is that standard precautions apply to all patients, regardless of infection status.

Standard precautions are the baseline safety practices used with every patient to prevent transmission of infections, regardless of whether an infection is suspected. This universal approach means hand hygiene is performed with all patient contact, gloves are worn when touching blood or body fluids or contaminated surfaces, and appropriate PPE (gown, mask, eye protection) is used based on the procedure and exposure risk, along with safe injection practices and proper equipment handling. Negative pressure rooms and full airborne PPE are not part of standard precautions; those are specific to airborne isolation when a patient has or may have an airborne infection. Therefore, the true statement is that standard precautions apply to all patients, regardless of infection status.