According to the CDC's standard precautions, gloves are required for which of the following tasks?

Gloves are required when handling linen that is soiled with blood because this task involves potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of standard precautions, which are designed to minimize the risk of infection transmission in healthcare settings. By wearing gloves while handling soiled linens, healthcare workers protect themselves and also prevent contamination of surfaces and materials with potentially infectious materials, thereby reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

In contrast, handling clean linens does not pose a risk of exposure to pathogens that would necessitate glove use, as these linens are considered free of contamination. Changing a wound dressing, although it may seem like it would require gloves, could be context-dependent based on the condition of the wound and the presence of blood or other fluids, but typically, gloves are required primarily if the dressing is soiled. Administering oral medication generally does not require gloves since it involves no direct contact with blood or bodily fluids. Therefore, the requirement of gloves is particularly relevant in scenarios where there is a known risk of exposure to blood or other infectious materials, which is clearly the case when handling blood-soiled linens.