Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

What is one way that bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted?

1. By hugging an infected person

2. By infected blood entering the bloodstream

3. By standing too close to an infected person when he coughs

4. By touching something an infected person has touched

The correct answer is: By infected blood entering the bloodstream

Bloodborne pathogens are primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, particularly blood. The correct answer highlights the critical mode of transmission where infected blood enters the bloodstream of another individual. This can occur through various routes, such as through needlesticks, cuts, or open wounds. Understanding this method of transmission is essential for ensuring safety protocols in healthcare settings to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. In contrast, hugging an infected person may involve close contact but does not typically lead to transmission of bloodborne pathogens since there is no direct exchange of blood. Similarly, standing close to an infected person during a cough or touching surfaces they have contacted typically pertains to respiratory or surface-borne infections rather than bloodborne ones. Thus, recognizing that bloodborne pathogens require direct entry into the bloodstream underscores the importance of universal precautions in healthcare to mitigate risks.