Which of the following is considered a standard precaution for infection control?

Washing hands thoroughly before and after patient contact is a fundamental practice in infection control and is considered a standard precaution. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of infections in healthcare settings. When healthcare providers wash their hands, they reduce the microbial load on their hands, minimizing the risk of spreading pathogens to patients or acquiring infections themselves.

Handwashing should be performed not just when blood or bodily fluids are visible but as a routine practice to maintain overall hygiene. It is essential before and after any interaction with patients, after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, and after removing gloves to ensure that any pathogens that may have been acquired are removed.

Other options provide insights into infection control but do not encompass the broad and universally applicable nature of standard precautions as hand hygiene does. For example, limiting glove use to situations where blood is visible may lead to neglecting scenarios where pathogens are present but not immediately apparent. Similarly, the exclusive use of disinfectants on surfaces does not account for the need for hand hygiene. Lastly, wearing a mask continuously may be necessary in specific circumstances, but it isn’t a universal standard precaution applicable to all situations in healthcare.