AIDS. Implementation of universal blood and body fluid precautions

The use of "universal blood and body-fluid precautions," or "universal precautions" to prevent the acquisition of blood-borne diseases in health care workers is now widely recommended. Such recommendations are soundly based on a number of biologic, psychologic, and administrative bases. Implementation of the program in an individual hospital is an imposing task, requiring administrative support and skill. A process for establishing initial definitions for the more ambiguous areas, and for administrative and educational support to all levels of care needs to be defined in advance, then put into effect. A wider definition of "universal precautions," which approaches the "Body Substance Isolation" system, is discussed. The use of a "task-classification" system, evaluating the risk inherent in specific tasks, may actually aid both the implementation and the acceptance of such a program.