What is the basic assumption underlying Standard Precautions (SP)?

The basic assumption underlying Standard Precautions is that all bodily fluids are potentially infectious. This approach is pivotal in the healthcare setting as it dictates that healthcare workers must treat all patients' bodily fluids—such as saliva, sweat, urine, and blood—as if they contain pathogens capable of causing infection. This precaution not only protects healthcare workers but also helps prevent the spread of infections among patients.

By adopting this mindset, it encourages consistent practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling and disposal of sharps and waste. This comprehensive strategy aims to minimize the risk of transmitting infections, especially when dealing with individuals whose health status may be unknown. Other assumptions, like believing that only certain body fluids or fluids from sick individuals are infectious, do not account for asymptomatic carriers of infections or the myriad other ways bodily fluids can pose a risk. Thus, treating all bodily fluids with caution is foundational to ensuring safety in a healthcare environment.