What do 'universal precautions' aim to prevent?

Universal precautions are guidelines designed to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. These precautions are essential in healthcare settings, particularly in laboratories and during procedures involving blood or potentially infectious materials. By assuming that all blood and certain body fluids are infectious, healthcare workers implement practices such as wearing gloves, using masks, and employing safe needle disposal to minimize the risk of exposure to pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

These precautions focus on protecting both the healthcare providers and patients from infection, ensuring a safer environment. While preventing contamination of specimens and inaccurate test results is important in a laboratory setting, these specific outcomes are not the primary focus of universal precautions. Infection from airborne diseases is addressed by different infection control measures that are not included in the scope of universal precautions, which specifically target blood and body fluids.