Standard precautions and universal precautions are related but distinct concepts in infection control. Universal precautions were introduced by OSHA and the CDC primarily to protect healthcare workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens by treating all blood and certain bodily fluids as potentially infectious. These precautions focus mainly on preventing transmission through contact with blood and visibly bloody fluids. Standard precautions, introduced later by the CDC as an expansion of universal precautions, cover a broader range of infectious risks. They apply to all patients regardless of infection status and include protection from not only bloodborne pathogens but also pathogens that can be transmitted via other body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes. Standard precautions encompass hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, respiratory hygiene, safe injection practices, and environmental cleaning. These were developed recognizing that many pathogens are transmitted through routes other than blood alone. In summary, universal precautions are mainly focused on bloodborne infection prevention, while standard precautions provide a more comprehensive set of protective measures against multiple modes of infection transmission in healthcare settings.
