What are universal precautions?

Universal precautions are an essential infection control strategy in healthcare and residential care settings. The concept of treating all bodily fluids as potentially infectious is key to preventing the transmission of infections, particularly bloodborne pathogens like HIV and Hepatitis B. This approach emphasizes that caregivers should always act with the assumption that any fluid, regardless of the subject's known medical history, could carry infectious agents.

By consistently applying these precautions, staff can maintain a safer environment for both residents and themselves. This includes wearing gloves when in contact with bodily fluids, proper disposal of sharps, and practicing good hand hygiene. This proactive method reduces the risk of infection and upholds the health and safety of everyone in the facility.

The other options, while relevant to different topics within healthcare, do not accurately capture the essence of universal precautions. Advanced medical treatments and guidelines for resident activities do not specifically address the infection control principles that universal precautions are designed to uphold. A program for promoting physical health does not encompass the critical aspects of infection control that universal precautions entail. Understanding this infection control method is fundamental for anyone working in environments where they might encounter bodily fluids.