Standard Vs. Universal Precautions

Standard Vs. Universal Precautions

Health care workers who have direct patient contact, or who handle medical equipment and tissue specimens, are required to follow certain guidelines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. These guidelines are referred to as "standard precautions," "universal precautions," or "body substance isolation." Although each works to protect staff and patients from the spread of infection, it's important to understand how they differ in content and practice.

Universal precautions are defined as work practices that help prevent contact with blood and a number of other body fluids visibly contaminated with blood. These precautions take the guesswork out of self-protection by extending the practices to all people and all bloodborne pathogens.

Although the objective is the same, standard precautions widen the spectrum of potentially dangerous body substances. They combine the major components of universal precautions and body substance isolation (reduces the chances of transmitting pathogens from moist body substances). Probably the biggest difference between universal precautions and standard precautions lies in the addition of body fluids regardless of visible blood. Standard precautions include work practices to avoid contamination by blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (with the exception of sweat), nonintact skin, mucous membranes, dried blood, and other body substances, including saliva.

Although the terminology has changed and the types of potentially infectious tissues and substances have grown in number, the objectives and work practices are nearly identical. Study the procedures for each method. Preach constant awareness of the importance of handwashing and other work controls to minimize the risk of infection transmission.