What is the purpose of standard precautions?

• A. To document chart entries
• B. To prevent the spread of infection by treating all bodily fluids as potentially infectious
• C. To schedule care visits
• D. To ensure patient privacy

Answer: (B)

Standard precautions are the basic safety practices used in healthcare to prevent the spread of infection. The main idea is to treat all body fluids as potentially infectious and to use protective barriers—like gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection—along with thorough hand hygiene. This approach also includes safe handling of needles and contaminated equipment and proper cleaning and disinfection. By applying these precautions with every patient, healthcare workers reduce the risk of transmitting infections, regardless of a patient’s apparent illness. Other choices involve charting, scheduling, or privacy, which are important tasks but not what standard precautions are designed to address.