Standard Precautions require which of the following?

• A. Use hand hygiene and PPE as appropriate; proper respiratory hygiene.
• B. Treat all body fluids as potentially infectious; use hand hygiene and PPE as appropriate; proper respiratory hygiene and safe injection practices.
• C. Treat all body fluids as potentially infectious; use hand hygiene and PPE as appropriate; proper respiratory hygiene and safe injection practices.
• D. Standard Precautions apply only to certain patients.

Answer: (C)

Standard Precautions are the baseline infection prevention practices used with every patient. The essential idea is to treat all body fluids as potentially infectious (except sweat) and to protect yourself and others through proper hand hygiene and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. It also includes keeping respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette in clinical areas and practicing safe injection methods to prevent transmission via needles and syringes. Together, these practices form the comprehensive approach required for every patient encounter. The other options miss one or more of these critical components—for example, omitting safe injection practices, or implying precautions aren’t needed for all patients.