HIV/AIDS Flashcard
Rationale
A. Rationale: To prevent the transmission of HIV infection, the rescuer must don personal protective equipment. In the out-of-hospital setting with limited resources, the rescuer may use latex gloves and a gauze pad to apply pressure to the wound. If latex gloves are not available, the rescuer can use a plastic bag.
Question
A patient known to have HIV infection is bleeding profusely secondary to a stab wound. You tend to the patient and must stop the bleeding. Which of the following procedures should you follow in this instance?
a. Use any barrier to protect your hands while applying pressure to the wound.
b. Use a gauze pad to apply pressure to the stab wound.
c. Do not touch the patient and wait for the paramedics to arrive.
d. Provide chest compressions immediately.
Answer
a. Use any barrier to protect your hands while applying pressure to the wound.
Rationale
C. Rationale: Sexual intercourse is the most commonly recorded method of HIV transmission. Blood on the patient’s gown poses a risk if it comes into contact with broken skin or the caregiver’s mucus membranes.
Question
Studies show that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can infect a person through:
a. Shaking hands
b. Blood on the patient’s gown
c. Sexual intercourse
d. All of the above instances are documented to have transmitted HIV
Answer
c. Sexual intercourse
Rationale
A. Rationale: There are two variants of HIV. HIV attacks the immune system and causes the person to be immunocompromised. Modern testing of donated blood has eradicated the risk of HIV contamination from a blood transfusion. HIV does not survive long outside the body.
Question
Which one of the following is true regarding HIV?
a. There are two variants, HIV-1 and HIV-2
b. The virus causes overactivity of the immune system
c. Receiving donated blood significantly increases your risk of getting HIV
d. HIV survives outside the body on inanimate objects
Answer
a. There are two variants, HIV-1 and HIV-2