RATIONALE
Standard precautions combine the major features of Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation and are based upon the principle that all blood, body fluids, secretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes may contain transmissible infectious agents. Standard precautions include a group of infection-prevention practices that apply to all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infectious status, in any setting in which health care is delivered. These include hand hygiene; use of gloves, gown, mask, eye protection or face shield, depending on the anticipated exposure; and safe injection practices. Equipment in the patient environment that is likely to have been contaminated with infectious body fluids must also be handled in a manner designed to prevent transmission of infectious agents (e.g., reusable equipment must be properly cleaned and disinfected or sterilized before being used on another patient).

RECOMMENDATIONS
Health care professionals should assume that every person is potentially infected or colonized with an organism that can be transmitted in the health care setting and should apply infection control practices during the delivery of health care. These practices include hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, and safe injection practices. Details of these are found on the CDC website as below.

SOURCE: CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation_standard.html.