Infection prevention practices that apply to all patients, irrespective of their infection status, are known as:

The correct answer is "Standard precautions." This term refers to infection prevention practices that healthcare providers must apply universally to all patients, regardless of their known or suspected infection status. Standard precautions are vital to preventing the transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings.

These precautions include practices such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks, safe handling of sharps, and proper management of contaminated materials. By applying these measures universally, dental professionals reduce the risk of cross-contamination and safeguard both patients and healthcare workers.

In contrast, guidelines typically provide recommendations or frameworks for best practices but do not denote specific, mandatory practices like standard precautions do. Risk management encompasses broader strategies for minimizing potential risks in healthcare, including legal, financial, and reputational aspects; however, it does not focus solely on infection control. Clinical protocols refer to detailed procedures or steps for specific clinical situations, which could include infection control but are not defined as universally applicable to all patient interactions as standard precautions are.