HBsAg Standard Precautions — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Use standard infection control precautions
Explanation lettering: E = shown as B · B = shown as C · C = shown as D · D = shown as E
A is correct. Standard infection control precautions are used for every patient, whether infection is known or not. They include risk-appropriate hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, safe sharps handling, instrument decontamination, environmental cleaning and management of blood spills. Therefore, a patient’s known HBsAg-positive status does not itself require altered scheduling, isolation or special decontamination. Enhanced decontamination and an end-of-day appointment are unnecessary because the usual validated decontamination and cleaning processes must already be used between patients. Double gloving is not a routine response to HBV status; gloves are selected according to the procedure and anticipated exposure. A separate room is likewise not indicated for a blood-borne virus transmitted through blood exposure rather than routine airborne contact.
Reference: Department of Health and Social Care. Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care—Standard infection control precautions, 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infection-prevention-and-control-in-adult-social-care-settings/infection-prevention-and-control-resource-for-adult-social-care