BickUW89

The difference is this: "Universal Precautions" is an OSHA term, defined in OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. It refers specifically to "blood and other potentially infectious materials," or "OPIM." Note that OPIM DOES NOT include certain body fluids/substances, such as vomit, urine, feces, sweat, saliva, tears, et. al., UNLESS they are contaminated with visible blood. "Standard Precautions" is a term adopted by the CDC. It takes the idea of OSHA's Universal Precautions but expands it to include, basically, everything. As some say, "It's wet and it ain't yours, don't touch it." The most important difference between the two is this: OSHA is a regulatory agency, and thus those things defined by Universal Precautions are ENFORCEABLE as regulations. the CDC, however, is not a regulatory agency. The CDC issues GUIDELINES, not REGULATIONS. Guidelines are not enforceable in the same manner that Regulations are.