Which statement about standard precautions is true for infection control?

Which statement about standard precautions is true for infection control?

• A. N95 respirator for all patients
• B. Hand hygiene and gloves for potential contact with body fluids
• C. Gloves only, without hand hygiene
• D. Goggles for all tasks

Answer: (B)

Standard precautions are the baseline infection control practices used with every patient. The essential idea is to prevent transmission through routine cleanliness and barrier protection, especially when there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non‑intact skin. The best statement is that hand hygiene and gloves are used for any situation where body fluids might be involved because hands can transfer pathogens between surfaces, patients, and oneself, and gloves provide a barrier during contact with fluids or contaminated items. However, hand hygiene should be performed before donning gloves and after removing them; gloves alone do not replace the need for clean hands. The other options aren’t correct because a respirator for all patients isn’t part of standard precautions and is reserved for specific airborne risks, gloves without hand hygiene isn’t sufficient, and goggles for all tasks aren’t indicated unless there’s a risk of splashes or exposure.

Standard precautions are the baseline infection control practices used with every patient. The essential idea is to prevent transmission through routine cleanliness and barrier protection, especially when there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, or non‑intact skin. The best statement is that hand hygiene and gloves are used for any situation where body fluids might be involved because hands can transfer pathogens between surfaces, patients, and oneself, and gloves provide a barrier during contact with fluids or contaminated items. However, hand hygiene should be performed before donning gloves and after removing them; gloves alone do not replace the need for clean hands. The other options aren’t correct because a respirator for all patients isn’t part of standard precautions and is reserved for specific airborne risks, gloves without hand hygiene isn’t sufficient, and goggles for all tasks aren’t indicated unless there’s a risk of splashes or exposure.