What safety precautions protect staff from bloodborne pathogens in the OR?

• A. Use standard precautions, PPE (gloves, gown, eye protection), safe sharps handling, and proper needle disposal; post-exposure protocols
• B. Wear gloves only during blood exposure
• C. Disregard post-exposure protocols
• D. Handle sharps with bare hands

Answer: (A)

Preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens in the OR centers on standard precautions and a complete set of safety measures. Standard precautions require treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, so staff consistently use PPE—gloves for contact with blood or body fluids, a gown to protect clothing, and eye protection or a face shield to guard mucous membranes against splashes. The OR’s high-risk environment makes careful sharps management essential: do not recap needles, pass sharps safely, and dispose of used needles and contaminated instruments in puncture-resistant sharps containers to prevent injuries. Post-exposure protocols are also critical: if exposure occurs, promptly wash the area, report the incident, and obtain medical evaluation and follow-up, including baseline testing and vaccination status for hepatitis B, plus consider post-exposure prophylaxis as indicated. The other approaches are insufficient—gloves alone don’t protect against splashes or other exposure routes, ignoring post-exposure steps leaves staff vulnerable, and handling sharps with bare hands is a direct route for infection.