Which is considered a standard precaution in infection control?

The choice that is considered a standard precaution in infection control is treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. This principle is foundational to infection control practices and ensures a consistent and safe approach to handling materials that could harbor infectious agents.

By adopting this mindset, healthcare providers minimize the risk of transmission of infections to themselves and patients, as even asymptomatic individuals may carry pathogens. This precaution reinforces the importance of using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and gowns, as well as practicing proper hand hygiene regardless of a patient’s known health status. It establishes a standard that promotes safety across all patient interactions, rather than relying on the identification of specific infections, which could be misleading or lead to oversights.

Other options fall short of this comprehensive approach. For instance, only using gloves with known infections would create a false sense of security and potentially expose healthcare providers to unrecognized risks. Wearing masks at all times might not be necessary in every situation and could lead to unnecessary discomfort or resource wastage. Avoiding contact with patients entirely contradicts the principle of care and treatment, which is at the core of healthcare practice. Thus, consistently treating all blood and body fluids as if they are infectious ensures a proactive, rather than reactive, attitude towards