Infection Control · single question
What does 'universality' mean in standard precautions?
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Correct answer: A. Treat ALL body fluids as if they were infectious
✓ A) Treat ALL body fluids as if they were infectious is correct.
Standard (universal) precautions — established by CDC in 1987, updated as 'Standard Precautions' in 1996 — are based on the principle that ALL blood and potentially infectious body fluids should be treated as if they contain transmissible pathogens, regardless of the patient's known or unknown infection status. This eliminates the need to know a patient's serostatus before applying protective measures. In dentistry, this applies to blood, saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and any body fluid with visible blood.
Standard (universal) precautions — established by CDC in 1987, updated as 'Standard Precautions' in 1996 — are based on the principle that ALL blood and potentially infectious body fluids should be treated as if they contain transmissible pathogens, regardless of the patient's known or unknown infection status. This eliminates the need to know a patient's serostatus before applying protective measures. In dentistry, this applies to blood, saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and any body fluid with visible blood.
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