Infection Control and Public Health Regulations
This domain tests CDC recommendations, OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, sterilization monitoring, post-exposure management, and reportable disease duties. Expect scenario questions about a failed spore test, improper PPE, or a needlestick.
Core requirements
- A written exposure control plan, reviewed annually and available to staff.
- Hepatitis B vaccination offered at no cost; declination documented.
- PPE selected by anticipated exposure, not by appearance.
- Hand hygiene before and after patient contact and after glove removal.
- Sharps containers closable, puncture-resistant, and not overfilled.
Sterilization and monitoring
Critical items must be cleaned, packaged, and heat-sterilized. Monitor each load with mechanical, chemical, and biological indicators. A positive biological indicator requires removing the sterilizer from service, recalling and reprocessing affected loads, and retesting before use.
Worked example
A spore test is positive on Friday’s first load. Staff continue using the autoclave because the chemical indicator tape turned dark. The tape only shows exposure to heat, not sterility. The correct response is to stop use, quarantine the sterilizer, identify and notify affected patients as required, reprocess instruments, and retest with biological indicators before returning the unit to service.
Traps
- Equating autoclave tape with sterilization.
- Using “cold sterile” for critical instruments.
- Replacing hand hygiene with gloves.
- Skipping post-exposure evaluation after a needlestick.
- Assuming only visible blood triggers OSHA precautions.
Exam focus
Trace the item from contaminated to patient-ready and identify the monitoring step that was missed.