Which component is included in standard precautions?

• A. Hand hygiene protocol
• B. N95 mask
• C. Gown & gloves for all patients
• D. Sterile technique for all procedures

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene is the foundational element of standard precautions. Treating all patients as potentially infectious means you wash or sanitize your hands before touching a patient, before performing any clean/aseptic task, after exposure to body fluids or contaminated materials, after touching the patient, and after leaving the patient’s environment. Hands are the most common way pathogens spread, so this one practice dramatically reduces transmission and is used with every patient.

The other items are more situational. An N95 mask is used for airborne precautions when a patient has or might have a disease transmitted by small droplets in the air, not for all patients under standard precautions. Wearing gowns and gloves for all patients isn’t required with standard precautions; PPE is used based on the anticipated exposure to body fluids or contamination. Sterile technique for all procedures isn’t part of standard precautions either; sterile technique applies to specific invasive or sterile procedures, whereas standard precautions cover routine protection across the board.