What is included in standard precautions for handling patients?

Wearing gloves if there is a possibility of contact with blood or bodily fluids is a fundamental component of standard precautions. These precautions are designed to prevent the transmission of infections in healthcare settings by assuming that all bodily fluids may be potentially infectious. Gloves act as a protective barrier to minimize the risk of exposure to pathogens, ensuring the safety of both the healthcare provider and the patient.

The other practices, while important, are not as universally encapsulated under the concept of standard precautions. For instance, while wearing masks can be necessary in certain situations, it is not a requirement at all times unless specific conditions warrant it, such as during procedures that generate aerosols or when the patient has a respiratory illness. Using hand sanitizer is essential for infection control but typically comes as a part of a broader hand hygiene protocol rather than as a stand-alone action after every contact. Lastly, isolating all patients is not a part of standard precautions, as isolation is reserved for specific patients who are known or suspected to be infectious.