Universal Precautions

This 2-hour continuing education course provides healthcare personnel and licensed or certified healthcare professionals in U.S. practice settings with a practical review of Universal Precautions, Standard Precautions, HIV/AIDS, bloodborne pathogen safety, OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard concepts, and nationally recognized infection control guidance. The course connects infection control principles to daily healthcare practice, including hand hygiene, PPE, sharps safety, respiratory hygiene, environmental cleaning, post-exposure procedures, confidentiality, HIV testing, reporting, and partner notification.

Learning Objectives

• Define Universal vs. Standard Precautions: Explain Universal Precautions and how they relate to the current Standard Precautions framework.
• Identify Modes of Transmission: Recognize common transmission pathways for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other bloodborne pathogens.
• Describe Infection Control Practices: Apply hand hygiene, PPE use, sharps safety, respiratory hygiene, and environmental cleaning to reduce exposure risk.
• Explain OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards: Understand exposure control plans, engineering controls, work practice controls, Hepatitis B vaccination, and post-exposure follow-up requirements.
• Recognize Post-Exposure Steps: Identify immediate actions following needlestick injuries, blood splashes, or other occupational exposures.
• Discuss HIV/AIDS Management and Prevention: Review testing, referral, risk reduction, prevention strategies, and post-exposure follow-up principles.
• Summarize Legal and Professional Considerations: Understand general U.S. considerations related to HIV testing, informed consent, confidentiality, exposure procedures, reporting, partner notification, workplace policy, and state-specific requirements.
• Apply Infection Control Across Settings: Implement precautions in various environments including patient care, therapy, dentistry, massage therapy, labs, and home health.