Infection control is implemented in nursing practice primarily through what means?

Implementing infection control in nursing practice primarily involves adherence to universal precautions. This approach serves as a comprehensive framework that guides healthcare workers in minimizing the risk of transmitting infections in various healthcare settings. Universal precautions are designed to treat all blood and bodily fluids as if they are potentially infectious, thereby promoting practices such as using personal protective equipment (PPE), proper hand hygiene, and safe handling of sharps and contaminated materials.

These practices are critical in preventing the spread of pathogens within healthcare facilities and protecting both patients and healthcare workers. They emphasize a proactive stance on infection control, ensuring that measures are in place regardless of a patient's known infection status.

In contrast, sharing patient care items can contribute to the spread of infections, advanced technology alone cannot replace the fundamental infection control practices, and frequent patient transfers may increase the risk of infectious disease transmission rather than control it. Therefore, the focus on universal precautions is pivotal in establishing a culture of safety and infection prevention in nursing practice.