What do universal precautions in health care aim to protect against?

Universal precautions in healthcare are a critical set of practices designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly those that can be spread through blood and other bodily fluids. This approach is foundational in infection control, as it assumes that all bodily fluids are potentially infectious regardless of a patient’s known status.

By adhering to universal precautions, healthcare workers utilize protective barriers such as gloves, masks, and gowns when they anticipate contact with blood or bodily fluids. This protocol is crucial for safeguarding both the healthcare provider and the patient from possible infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and other infectious agents.

While injury from sharp objects, exposure to airborne pathogens, and physical violence are important concerns in healthcare settings, they do not fall under the scope of universal precautions, which specifically focuses on bloodborne and fluidborne pathogens. Thus, the primary aim of universal precautions is to mitigate the risk of infection from contact with potentially contaminated bodily fluids.