Universal precautions refers to the practice, in medicine, of avoiding contact with patients bodily fluids by means of wearing nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields, with the underlying infection control techniques being essentially good hygiene habits, such as hand washing and the use of gloves and other barriers, the correct handling of hypodermic needles and scalpels, and aseptic technique. Following the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally introduced universal precautions between 1985 and 1988, under which every patient was treated as though infected so that precautions were taken to minimize risk regardless. In 1987 the practice was adjusted by a further set of rules known as body substance isolation, and in 1996 both practices were replaced by the current approach known as standard precautions, under which the use of personal protective equipment is now recommended in all health care settings.
Facts
Origin YearThe article gives a span of 1985 to 1988 for the formal CDC introduction; the start year is recorded. FAQs
What do healthcare workers follow today in place of universal precautions?
They follow standard precautions: hand hygiene and protective equipment based on a risk assessment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now describes standard precautions for all patient care. They are based on a risk assessment and aim to protect healthcare providers from infection and to prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient. The practices include hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment whenever exposure to infectious material is expected, safe injection practices and careful handling of needles.
Connections
Associated With
Universal precautions are infection control standards used across infectious disease and clinical care.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Universal precautions (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Universal precautions, lead section
Following the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s, the US CDC formally introduced them in 1985-88.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_precautions, lead section
Universal precautions refers to the practice, in medicine, of avoiding contact with patients' bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields.
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