Employee & Occupational Health Flashcards

A hospital employee develops varicella (chickenpox). Which colleagues should be prioritized for post-exposure evaluation?

Answer: Susceptible staff who had face-to-face contact within 3 feet for ≥5 minutes

Varicella spreads via airborne and droplet routes, so close contact (≥5 minutes within 3 feet) defines exposed susceptible individuals who need evaluation.

Which of the following represents the correct work restriction for a healthcare worker with uncontrolled draining skin lesions caused by Staphylococcus aureus?

Answer: Exclude from direct patient care until lesions are healed or controlled

Healthcare workers with uncontrolled draining staph lesions pose a transmission risk and should be excluded from direct patient care until resolved.

The primary goal of an exposure incident reporting system in a healthcare facility is to:

Answer: Enable timely post-exposure management and identify prevention opportunities

Prompt reporting enables timely prophylaxis and counseling while aggregate data identifies hazards for prevention program improvement.

A healthcare worker declines influenza vaccination. Per CDC and most accreditation standards, the MOST appropriate policy response is to:

Answer: Require declination documentation and consider a mask policy during influenza season

Facilities typically require a signed declination form and may mandate masking during influenza season to protect patients from unvaccinated workers.

Which hepatitis B surface antigen test result pattern indicates an employee has developed vaccine-induced immunity after completing the hepatitis B vaccine series?

Answer: Anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL, HBsAg negative

Anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL is the accepted correlate of vaccine-induced protection, indicating an adequate immune response.

A surgical technician has contact dermatitis from latex exposure. The MOST important initial occupational health intervention is:

Answer: Determine whether reaction is irritant, Type IV, or Type I hypersensitivity

Distinguishing the type of reaction is critical because Type I (IgE-mediated) latex allergy carries anaphylaxis risk and requires more aggressive management than irritant or Type IV reactions.

When a healthcare worker experiences a blood/body fluid exposure, which element is essential in the written exposure control plan per OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

Answer: Engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize exposure

OSHA requires the exposure control plan to identify engineering controls, work practice controls, and PPE used to minimize employee exposure risk.