CBIC Employee Health 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A hospital employee is exposed to measles while caring for an undiagnosed patient. The employee has no documented evidence of immunity. The most appropriate action is:
- Administer MMR vaccine within 72 hours and furlough from day 5 to day 21 post-exposure (Correct answer)
- Place in N95 and allow continued patient care
- Administer immune globulin and allow work after 7 days
- Retest immunity in 2 weeks before deciding on action
Correct answer: Administer MMR vaccine within 72 hours and furlough from day 5 to day 21 post-exposure
Susceptible HCWs exposed to measles should receive MMR within 72 hours and be furloughed during the potential incubation period (days 5–21).
Question 2: Which of the following respiratory protection devices provides the minimum protection required for healthcare workers caring for patients with suspected airborne infections such as tuberculosis?
- NIOSH-certified N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- Standard surgical mask
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
- N99 respirator
Correct answer: NIOSH-certified N95 respirator
An N95 respirator is the minimum respiratory protection level recommended for caring for patients with known or suspected airborne infections.
Question 3: An infection preventionist is designing a fitness-for-duty policy for workers with infectious skin conditions. Which condition should result in immediate work restriction regardless of wound coverage?
- Weeping or draining skin lesions of unknown etiology (Correct answer)
- Dry eczema on the forearm
- Well-controlled psoriasis on the trunk
- Resolving contact dermatitis with intact skin
Correct answer: Weeping or draining skin lesions of unknown etiology
Draining or weeping lesions pose a transmission risk and require work restriction regardless of dressing coverage until the source is identified and managed.
Question 4: After a significant blood exposure, a healthcare worker who is anti-HBs positive (≥10 mIU/mL) requires:
- No further hepatitis B prophylaxis (Correct answer)
- A hepatitis B booster dose
- Hepatitis B immune globulin plus a booster
- Immediate hepatitis B surface antigen testing
Correct answer: No further hepatitis B prophylaxis
Documented immunity (anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL) is fully protective; no additional hepatitis B prophylaxis is needed after exposure.
Question 5: Which type of sharps injury is associated with the highest risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission?
- Deep puncture wound from a hollow-bore needle visibly contaminated with blood (Correct answer)
- Superficial scratch from a solid suture needle
- Splash of blood onto intact skin
- Contact with dried blood on a surface
Correct answer: Deep puncture wound from a hollow-bore needle visibly contaminated with blood
Deep injuries from hollow-bore needles containing fresh blood carry the highest transmission risk due to the volume of inoculated material.
Question 6: A healthcare facility is experiencing a chickenpox outbreak. Which employees should be furloughed from patient contact areas?
- Susceptible employees who lack documented immunity or prior varicella vaccination (Correct answer)
- All employees regardless of immune status
- Only employees who had direct exposure to the index case
- Only immunocompromised employees
Correct answer: Susceptible employees who lack documented immunity or prior varicella vaccination
Non-immune employees are at risk of infection and could transmit varicella to vulnerable patients, making furlough or vaccination essential.
Question 7: Under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, healthcare employers must designate a person responsible for:
- Notifying an exposed employee of the source patient's infectious disease status (Correct answer)
- Managing HIV treatment for infected employees
- Providing legal counsel to HCWs who experience exposures
- Reporting occupational HIV infections to the CDC
Correct answer: Notifying an exposed employee of the source patient's infectious disease status
The Ryan White Act requires facilities to have a designated officer who can obtain and share source patient infection status with exposed employees.
CBIC Employee Health 5
A hospital employee is exposed to measles while caring for an undiagnosed patient.
The employee has no documented evidence of immunity.
The most appropriate action is: