What do standard precautions apply to?

Standard precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and other infectious agents in healthcare settings. They are essential practices that healthcare workers should follow to protect themselves and their patients from infections, no matter the mode of transmission. This includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper hand hygiene, and safe handling of potentially contaminated materials, such as blood and other body fluids.

The rationale behind standard precautions is that all blood and certain body fluids are treated as potentially infectious, regardless of the patient's known infection status. This approach is crucial in managing the risk of exposure to pathogens that can be present in blood, which are commonly associated with serious conditions like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

In contrast, the other options focus on specific aspects of infection control or treatment that do not encompass the full scope of standard precautions. Airborne pathogens require additional protective measures, such as specialized respiratory protection, while surgical settings and chronic illness management involve specific protocols that may not cover the broader application of standard precautions in general healthcare environments.