Standard precautions aim to prevent transmission of infections in health care by combining which practices?

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Standard precautions are a baseline set of practices designed to prevent the spread of infections in health care by targeting multiple routes of transmission. Hand hygiene reduces the spread of organisms that can be carried on hands between patients and surfaces. Personal protective equipment provides a barrier when there is potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or contaminated materials. Safe injection practices prevent transmission through contaminated needles, syringes, or other equipment and ensure sterility. Because each element tackles a different route of transmission, they’re all included and must be used together to minimize risk. So, combining hand hygiene, protective barriers, and safe injection methods provides the most effective protection.