The most recent set of guidelines for health care workers on dealing with blood, all body fluids, secretions and excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin and mucous membranes. They are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms. The Standard Precautions are implemented automatically for everyone, as all patients are presumed to be potentially infectious.
Guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the risk of the spread of infection in hospitals. These precautions (e.g., handwashing and wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, mask, eye protection, gown) apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), nonintact skin, and mucous membranes of all patients and are the primary strategy for successful nosocomial infection control.