Which statement best describes standard precautions in infection control?

• A. Standard precautions apply to all patients; transmission-based precautions are extra measures for specific infections.
• B. Standard precautions are optional and only used in some settings.
• C. Standard precautions are used for surgical procedures only.
• D. Standard precautions apply to all patients with known infections.

Answer: (C)

Standard precautions are the universal set of infection control practices used with every patient, regardless of their infection status. The goal is to reduce the risk of transmission through common routes like contact with blood and body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes. This includes consistent hand hygiene, use of appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection) as needed, safe handling of needles and other sharp instruments, safe injection practices, respiratory hygiene, and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection.

The reason this description is the best fit is because it captures the idea of universal protection for all patients, with additional measures added only when there is known or suspected infection. That’s the role of transmission-based precautions: they’re layered on top of standard precautions for specific infections to provide extra protection.

The other statements don’t fit because standard precautions are required in all care settings (not optional), they’re not limited to surgical procedures, and they’re not reserved only for patients with known infections—universal practices apply to everyone, with extra precautions added as needed.