What are standard precautions designed to do in healthcare settings?

Standard precautions are a set of guidelines designed to prevent and control the spread of infections in healthcare settings. These precautions are essential in protecting both healthcare workers and patients by minimizing exposure to potentially infectious bodily fluids, bloodborne pathogens, and other sources of infection.

The implementation of standard precautions involves practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection practices, and proper handling of contaminated surfaces and equipment. By adhering to these guidelines, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents, contributing to overall patient safety and public health.

Other options focus on specific aspects of healthcare that do not encompass the broad goal of infection prevention and control. For instance, controlling medication dispensing or ensuring quality patient care only during surgeries does not address the ongoing risk of infections that can occur in various healthcare settings, not just those that involve surgical procedures. Enhancing the efficiency of healthcare workers may be important, but it is a broader operational concern that does not specifically target infection prevention.