What are the guidelines used to control the transmission of any infectious blood-borne pathogens?

Universal precautions are a set of guidelines designed to prevent the transmission of infectious blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, in healthcare settings. These precautions are based on the understanding that all blood and certain body fluids may be potentially infectious. Therefore, these guidelines mandate that healthcare workers treat all patients as if they are infectious, regardless of their known status.

By following universal precautions, healthcare workers utilize appropriate barriers—such as gloves, masks, and eye protection—when there is a potential for exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. This standard helps to safeguard both the patient and the healthcare worker during procedures.

Other options, while relevant to infection control, do not specifically encapsulate the broad approach that universal precautions emphasize. Personal protective equipment is a component of universal precautions, but it is not the entirety of the guidelines. Biohazard management pertains to the disposal of hazardous materials, and infection control protocols encompass a wider range of practices that may include universal precautions but are not limited to blood-borne pathogens specifically.