Safe injection practices are part of Standard Precautions and require which of the following?

• A. Not wearing gloves for injections.
• B. Proper hand hygiene and aseptic technique with injections.
• C. Sharing syringes after cleaning.
• D. Only practicing injections in non-clinical settings.

Answer: (B)

Safe injection practices under Standard Precautions aim to prevent infection during injections. The most important requirement is proper hand hygiene and aseptic technique for every injection. Washing or sanitizing the hands before handling any equipment and performing sterile procedures to prepare and administer injections stops pathogens from moving from one person to another. Aseptic technique includes using a new, sterile needle and syringe for each patient, and cleansing the skin with an appropriate antiseptic before injection, as well as disinfecting vials if multi-dose use is needed. Gloves are used when there is potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids, but the defining practice is clean hands plus sterile technique. Choices that suggest not wearing gloves, sharing syringes after cleaning, or performing injections only in non-clinical settings do not align with safe-injection standards.