title: Standardising infection control precautions.
abstract: To minimise the risk of infection transmission, standard infection control precautions must be practised whether a patient is known to have an infection. The main aim of any infection control guideline or policy should, therefore, be to make it easy for staff to do the right thing at the right time. This article outlines standard precautions, explains their importance and presents the critical elements that should be applied in all care settings.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012015:Reference Standards; D006113:United Kingdom; D016635:Universal Precautions