Universal Precautions describe infection control that treats all blood as if it were infectious. Which best matches this concept?

• A. Isolate patients with infectious diseases
• B. Use sterile technique for all tasks
• C. Standard precautions for all fluids
• D. Treat all human blood as if infectious

Answer: (D)

Universal Precautions mean treating all human blood as if it were infectious, so infection control measures are applied consistently to every patient and every specimen. This mindset drives using gloves for any contact with blood or body fluids, proper handling and disposal of sharps, diligent hand hygiene, and routine cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment. The option that states to treat all human blood as if infectious directly captures this approach of assuming potential infectiousness and applying precautions universally.

The other ideas describe related practices but not the exact emphasis of universal precautions: isolating patients targets known infections rather than a universal rule; sterile technique for all tasks is more stringent and not specific to the blood-borne risk focus; standard precautions for all fluids broadens the scope beyond blood and reflects a different policy framing that isn’t the precise concept described here.