What is the primary purpose of Standard Precautions?

The primary purpose of Standard Precautions is to reduce infection transmission. These precautions are designed to protect both healthcare workers and patients from the spread of infectious diseases, regardless of the patient's diagnosis. Standard Precautions involve practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling of potentially contaminated materials. By adhering to these guidelines, healthcare facilities can significantly decrease the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and promote a safer environment for everyone involved.

While preventing blood exposure is an important aspect of Standard Precautions, the broader focus is on minimizing the overall risk of infection transmission in any healthcare setting. Ensuring patient consent pertains to ethical and legal considerations, whereas maintaining patient confidentiality is related to privacy and information security—both areas that, while critical in healthcare, do not directly relate to the infectious disease control aspect addressed by Standard Precautions.