What are the two main categories of infection control practices?

The main categories of infection control practices are standard precautions and transmission-based precautions. This classification is crucial because it provides a structured approach to preventing and controlling infections in healthcare settings.

Standard precautions are the basic infection prevention measures that are applied to all patients regardless of their infection status. This includes practices such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory hygiene, and safe injection practices. The goal of standard precautions is to minimize the risk of transmitting infections in healthcare environments.

On the other hand, transmission-based precautions are additional infection control measures used when a patient is known or suspected to be infected with a contagious pathogen. These precautions cater to the modes of transmission of specific diseases, divided into three categories: contact precautions, droplet precautions, and airborne precautions. By implementing these precautions, healthcare workers can effectively reduce the risk of transmission and protect not only the patients but also themselves and other healthcare staff.

The other choices, while they include relevant aspects of infection control, do not encompass the broader framework that standard and transmission-based precautions provide. For instance, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning are essential practices but fall under the overarching umbrella of standard precautions. Similarly, while personal protective equipment and vaccines are vital components of infection control, they are specific measures rather than