What is the difference between standard precautions and transmission-based precautions?

• A. Standard precautions apply to airborne infections only.
• B. Standard precautions apply to all patients; transmission-based precautions add measures for patients with suspected or confirmed specific infections.
• C. Transmission-based precautions replace standard precautions.
• D. There is no difference.

Answer: (B)

Standard precautions are the baseline safety practices used with every patient to prevent the spread of infections. They cover things like hand hygiene, using gloves, masks, eye protection, and proper handling of sharps, as well as clean environment and safe injection practices. Transmission-based precautions are additional measures used on top of standard precautions for patients who have or are suspected to have specific infections that require extra containment, such as airborne, droplet, or contact routes. They guide when to use extra PPE, isolate the patient, and adjust room placement and equipment handling. So the difference is that standard precautions apply to all patients, while transmission-based precautions add extra steps for particular infections. The other options miss this relationship: standard precautions are not limited to airborne infections, they are not replacements for standard, and there is a real difference between the two.