Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

An EMS provider responds to a patient with suspected active tuberculosis. Which respiratory protection is the MINIMUM required?

Answer: N95 respirator

An N95 respirator (or higher) is required for airborne precautions when caring for patients with suspected or confirmed tuberculosis.

After a needlestick injury involving a patient with unknown HIV status, the FIRST action an EMS provider should take is:

Answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water

Immediate wound washing with soap and water is the first step to reduce pathogen load after a needlestick injury.

Which of the following is considered a 'sharps' item that must be disposed of in a puncture-resistant container?

Answer: Lancet used for blood glucose testing

Lancets are sharps and must be discarded in a puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.

Contact precautions are MOST appropriate for a patient diagnosed with:

Answer: MRSA skin infection

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) skin infections require contact precautions to prevent direct or indirect transmission.

The Ryan White CARE Act requires:

Answer: Notification of EMS providers potentially exposed to infectious diseases

The Ryan White CARE Act requires notification of emergency responders when they may have been exposed to a life-threatening infectious disease.

Which cleaning agent is most appropriate for decontaminating the ambulance stretcher after transporting a patient with C. difficile?

Answer: Bleach-based disinfectant

C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol and most disinfectants, requiring bleach-based (sodium hypochlorite) solutions for effective decontamination.

Which of the following body fluids is considered LOWEST risk for HIV transmission?

Answer: Saliva

Saliva has extremely low concentrations of HIV and is not considered a significant route of transmission in occupational settings.