Universal Precautions
Universal precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne pathogens when providing first aid or healthcare. They apply to blood and other body fluids containing visible blood, treating all patients’ blood and certain body fluids as potentially infectious.
Always take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens.
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are intended to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms from both recognized and unrecognized sources of infection in healthcare settings. They apply to:
- Blood
- All body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat), regardless of visible blood
- Non-intact skin
- Mucous membranes
Key Components of Standard Precautions:
- Hand hygiene – proper handwashing and hand sanitization
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) – gloves, masks, eyewear, gowns
- Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
- Sharps safety – using engineering and work practice controls to prevent injuries
- Safe injection practices – aseptic technique for parenteral medications
- Sterile instruments and devices – proper sterilization and handling of medical tools
By following universal and standard precautions, healthcare workers significantly reduce their risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other infectious agents.