Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes CDC standard precautions?

1. Practices that only apply to patients with known infections

2. Infection prevention practices that apply to all patients

3. Protocols limited to surgical environments

4. Infection control measures for non-invasive procedures only

The correct answer is: Infection prevention practices that apply to all patients

The best description of CDC standard precautions is that they are infection prevention practices that apply to all patients. This broad applicability is essential in a healthcare setting because it ensures that healthcare workers take necessary precautions regardless of the patient’s known or unknown infection status. Standard precautions encompass a range of practices, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe handling of sharps, and proper cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces and medical equipment. This approach is necessary for preventing the spread of infections because many patients may carry infectious agents without showing symptoms, and there may be no indications of infection present at the time of care. Thus, applying these precautions universally rather than selectively helps to protect both healthcare workers and patients from the risk of healthcare-associated infections. The other options do not accurately reflect the intent and application of standard precautions. For instance, practices limited to patients with known infections would lead to gaps in infection control, as unrecognized infections could still pose risks. Similarly, restricting protocols to surgical environments or non-invasive procedures does not encompass the comprehensive nature of standard precautions that apply across all clinical settings.