Blood and Body Fluid Precautions
Blood and body fluid precautions (universal precautions) are a set of recommendations designed to prevent the transmission of diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other diseases while administering first aid or other health care. These precautions consider all blood and body fluids potentially infectious for diseases that are transmitted in the blood (blood-borne pathogens).
Blood and body fluid precautions involve the use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.
Current as of: December 13, 2018
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP – Emergency Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & H. Michael O’Connor, MD, MMEd, FRCPC – Emergency Medicine & W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC – Infectious Disease