What do standard precautions prevent in medication administration?

Standard precautions are critical in the context of medication administration as they are designed to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, specifically focusing on contact with blood or body fluids. These precautions assume that all blood and certain body fluids are potential sources of infection, and they encompass practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling of needles and other sharps.

By implementing standard precautions, healthcare providers minimize the risk of transferring pathogens from one person to another, which is particularly important in environments where medications are administered. This practice helps protect both patients and healthcare workers from infections that could arise from exposure to blood or bodily fluids during procedures or medication administration.

The other options, while they address various forms of contamination or exposure, do not directly relate to the key objective of standard precautions in this context. They may involve different safety protocols rather than the specific aim of preventing the spread of infections through blood or body fluids.