Final answer:
The protective measures that health care workers use to avoid contact with germs are known as standard precautions, which include the use of PPE to prevent exposure to infectious agents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protective measures that prevent health care workers from coming into contact with germs are referred to as b) standard precautions. These precautions are a set of infection control practices used to prevent the transmission of diseases that can be acquired by contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin (including rashes), and mucous membranes. These measures include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection, designed to prevent exposure to infectious agents.
Exposure refers to an encounter with a potential pathogen, but it does not necessarily lead to infection unless the pathogen gains access to host tissue through a portal of entry. Health care workers follow strict protocols including hand hygiene and use of PPE to prevent the spread of infection.