Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Basic Officer Certification Practice Exam

Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices designed to prevent the transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings. They apply to the management of blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin, as these are known pathways through which infections can spread.

Sweat, however, is not considered a vector for infection in the same way that blood and body fluids are. While standard precautions address the potential risks associated with contact with blood, bodily fluids, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin, they do not include sweat because it is not known to transmit infections under typical circumstances. This distinction is crucial for healthcare professionals to understand, as it allows them to focus their infection control efforts on the most significant risks.