What safety measure is primarily used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings?

The primary safety measure used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings is universal precautions. This approach is fundamental as it encompasses a broad range of practices designed to protect healthcare workers and patients from the transmission of infections. Universal precautions assume that all blood and certain body fluids are potentially infectious, regardless of the perceived status of the patient. This means that healthcare workers must treat all patients as if they are possible carriers of infectious agents.

Universal precautions include practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (including gloves, masks, and gowns), safe handling of needles and sharps, and proper disposal of biomedical waste. By implementing universal precautions, healthcare facilities create a safer environment that significantly reduces the risk of cross-infection and the spread of diseases, protecting both staff and patients.

While hand washing, using gloves, and aseptic technique are essential components of infection control, they are subsets of the broader framework provided by universal precautions. Therefore, universal precautions are the overarching strategy that integrates various individual practices aimed at preventing infection transmission.