The termuniversal precautionsrefers to certain steps that medical professionals and others take for infection-control.
In other words, assume that all bodily fluids are dangerous.
Medical professionals are then expected to treat these fluids accordingly.
Olga Efimova / EyeEm / Getty Images
Now, doctors wear gloves and other appropriate protective gear with everyone.
When healthcare providers are wearing gloves, it just means they’re following the rules.
The protective devices aren’t a signal that a person has a condition such as HIV.
In fact, in most cases, protections for people withinfectious diseasesare the same as for people without them.
That’s the entire purpose of universal precautions.
These days, the thought of a medical provider not wearing gloves is enough to make many people squirm.
Universal precautions very quickly went from a big change to a fact of life.
But it took a while to turn that knowledge into a change in practice.
The fact is, it takes time for blood-borne illnesses to be detected.
This is still true.
Just look at the case of HIV.
It takes special tests to detect the virus during the early weeks of HIV infection.
That is also a problem for several other illnesses.
When tests aren’t accurate right away, you never know if there is a risk of exposure.
So, you treat everyone as though they may be a risk.
The Purpose of Universal Precautions
There are two reasons that healthcare professionals use universal precautions.
The first reason is to protect people.
The second reason is to protect themselves.
Protective gear reduces the exposure of professionals to blood-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases.
Universal precautions make the healthcare workplace much safer.
Examples of Universal Precautions
The specific implementation of universal precautions varies from situation to situation.
For example, nurses might just wear gloves during standard outpatient care.
In other situations, gowns, masks, and eye shields may be indicated.
In general, the higher risk of spraying fluids, the more precautions are needed.
That’s why dentists wear so much gear.
Their work is messy and blood and other body fluids may spray around.
They just accept that taking precautions around bodily fluid is normal.
They may even find it a little bit gross.
That’s true even for those who experienced it their youth.
Cohen MS, Gay CL, Busch MP, Hecht FM.The detection of acute HIV infection.J Infect Dis.
2010;202(S2):S270-S277.
doi:10.1086/655651
Davis D, Carlton A, Wisch JS.The bloodborne pathogen standard in private practice.J Community Support Oncol.
2014;12(3):82-3.
2010;105(11):2327-2339. doi:10.1038/ajg.2010.254.
Wilburn SQ.Needlestick and sharps injury prevention.OnlineJ Issues Nurs.
2004;9(3):5.
