Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

What is an example of a contact standard?

1. Chickenpox

2. Staph Aureus

3. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

4. Influenza

The correct answer is: Staph Aureus

The correct answer is Staph Aureus, which serves as an example of a contact standard due to its mode of transmission and the implications for infection control. Contact standards are used in healthcare settings to prevent the spread of infections that can be transmitted through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or objects and also through physical contact with an infected individual. Staph Aureus, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is often spread through skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated surfaces, making strict adherence to contact precautions critical in managing patients infected or colonized with this bacteria. The implementation of contact precautions, such as the use of gloves and gowns, is essential in preventing the transmission of Staph Aureus to other patients and healthcare workers. In contrast, the other pathogens listed are governed by different standards of precautions. Chickenpox, for example, requires airborne precautions due to its transmission through respiratory droplets and contact with the skin lesions. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also primarily managed under airborne precautions, as it is transmitted through aerosols. Lastly, influenza transmission can occur in respiratory droplets, necessitating droplet precautions instead. Each of these pathogens highlights the importance of tailored infection control practices based on their specific transmission characteristics, making Staph Aureus