Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

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Study for the Medical Assistant Certification AMCA Exam. Test your knowledge with a variety of questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Be prepared for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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In healthcare settings, most HIV exposures are usually due to what?

Accidental needle sticks
Improper sterilization
Contact with blood
Inadequate handwashing

The correct answer is: Accidental needle sticks

Accidental needle sticks are the most common cause of HIV exposures in healthcare settings because healthcare workers are regularly in contact with needles and other sharp instruments that can penetrate the skin. When a needle that has been used on a patient with HIV inadvertently punctures the skin of a healthcare provider, there is a potential transmission of the virus. The risk of transmission is particularly concerning due to the nature of HIV, which is present in high concentrations in blood. Proper safety protocols, such as the use of safety-engineered needles and personal protective equipment, are essential in reducing the incidence of such exposures. While improper sterilization and contact with blood can pose risks for a variety of infections, they are not specifically linked to a majority of HIV exposures compared to needle stick injuries. Inadequate handwashing contributes to the spread of many infectious diseases but does not play a significant role in the transmission of HIV in the context of healthcare settings.