Which of the following best describes Standard Precautions?

Standard Precautions are a set of practices designed to prevent the transmission of infections in healthcare settings, and they are applicable to all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or suspected infection status. This comprehensive approach ensures that healthcare workers treat every patient as potentially infectious, which is essential for protecting both healthcare providers and patients.

By encompassing the necessary precautions for blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes, Standard Precautions help to establish a baseline of safety. This universal application is crucial, as it eliminates the risk of exposure from unrecognized infections.

Other options suggest limitations to these precautions. For example, stating that they only apply to patients with known infections or only to certain body fluids does not reflect the comprehensive nature of Standard Precautions. Similarly, restricting these practices to surgical settings would undermine their fundamental purpose in broader healthcare environments.