Universal precautions are designed to eliminate potential contact with body fluids that transmit what?

Universal precautions are specifically designed to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. These precautions are aimed at protecting healthcare workers, patients, and others from exposure to infectious agents found in blood and certain body fluids. Bloodborne pathogens include viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C, which can lead to serious health consequences if transmitted.

Adhering to universal precautions means that one should treat all blood and certain body fluids as potentially infectious, using protective barriers such as gloves, masks, and gowns when there is a risk of exposure. This practice significantly reduces the likelihood of infection among healthcare providers and patients alike.

The other options do not pertain to the central goal of universal precautions. While electrical current poses safety risks in a medical environment, it is not a biological hazard transmitted through body fluids. Meningitis can be caused by several pathogens including bacteria and viruses, but not all forms are transmitted through blood. Bacteriostatic viruses are not a recognized category within microbiology or infectious disease; instead, viruses like those causing infections would fall into categories of infectious agents that are addressed under universal precautions related to bloodborne pathogens.