Universal precautions require treating all blood and body fluids as infectious.

Universal precautions require treating all blood and body fluids as infectious.

• A. Infected Only When Symptomatic
• B. Infectious
• C. Safe Unless Known
• D. Not A Concern

Answer: (B)

Universal precautions rely on the idea that blood and body fluids could carry infectious agents at any time, so you treat them as infectious all the time. This protects you and others by preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens, since people can be infectious even when they have no symptoms. Treating fluids as infectious is the safest default, rather than waiting to see if someone is known to be infected or symptomatic. Saying fluids are infectious only when symptomatic, or that they’re safe unless known, or that it isn’t a concern, would neglect the reality that transmission can occur from asymptomatic or unknown infections.

Universal precautions rely on the idea that blood and body fluids could carry infectious agents at any time, so you treat them as infectious all the time. This protects you and others by preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens, since people can be infectious even when they have no symptoms. Treating fluids as infectious is the safest default, rather than waiting to see if someone is known to be infected or symptomatic. Saying fluids are infectious only when symptomatic, or that they’re safe unless known, or that it isn’t a concern, would neglect the reality that transmission can occur from asymptomatic or unknown infections.