Final answer:
Standard precautions are evidence-based practices designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in healthcare settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Standard precautions are evidence-based practices designed to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. These precautions are used in healthcare settings and include measures such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, gown, and mask, safe handling and disposal of sharps, and proper cleaning and disinfection of equipment and surfaces.
Standard precautions are applied to all patients or residents, regardless of their suspected or confirmed infection status. They are used to reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
For example, healthcare workers would follow standard precautions when caring for a patient with a contagious respiratory infection like COVID-19, even if the patient's infection status has not been confirmed.