Transmission Flashcard 1

D. Rationale: Nurses handle sharps and as such are exposed. Sanitation and disposal staff are at risk if others do not properly dispose of sharps in safe containers.

A. Rationale: The purpose of bloodborne pathogen training is to prepare people to proceed safely in work environments where they may be exposed to bodily fluids. Education on prevention reduces transmission. Employers are still responsible for providing PPE and a safe environment. Bloodborne pathogen exposure is a concern for people in many types of work, not just healthcare.

D. Rationale: Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted when bodily fluids from the infected person come into contact with mucus membranes or cuts in the skin. Personal protective equipment minimizes the risk of transmission.

D. Rationale: Aside from blood, bloodborne pathogens can survive in saliva, urine, and other body secretions.

B. Rationale: HIV is a bloodborne pathogen. Influenza is transmitted by respiratory droplets. Hepatitis A is a foodborne illness.

D. Rationale: Pathogens have different modes of attack. Some require direct contact; others can transmit via indirect contact. Vector-borne pathogens transmit through the air (e.g., aerosol droplets from a cough).

A. Rationale: Exposure to blood and other bodily fluids, such as saliva, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, semen, can potentially infect a rescuer. Exposure is more likely if there is a direct break in the skin in contact with these bodily fluids. Examples are needlestick injuries and contact with the mucous membranes of the rescuer, such as those in the mouth, nose, and eyes.

A. Rationale: Administrative staff must know the workplace’s mitigation and response plans and know how to train, protect, and respond to employee’s needs related to bloodborne pathogen exposures.

B. Rationale: Bloodborne pathogens do not survive outside the host for long periods of time.

D. Rationale: Transmission of HIV is possible when sharing toothbrushes, razors, and having unprotected sex with someone who is infected with the virus. In the absence of a break in the skin and bodily fluids, merely shaking hands will NOT transmit HIV.