Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

What does the term "source individual" specifically refer to in healthcare safety?

1. A healthcare worker in direct contact with patients

2. A patient who has been treated

3. Any person whose blood could pose a risk of exposure

4. A family member of a patient

The correct answer is: Any person whose blood could pose a risk of exposure

The term "source individual" specifically refers to any person whose blood could pose a risk of exposure. In the context of healthcare safety, this designation is crucial, especially when considering potential transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Understanding who constitutes a source individual is fundamental for implementing safety measures such as exposure control plans, post-exposure prophylaxis, and risk assessment protocols. When health workers or first responders come into contact with individuals who may have infectious blood, determining whether that person is a source individual allows for appropriate precautions to be taken to protect both healthcare professionals and patients. This definition emphasizes the importance of blood as a vector for infection and highlights the need for stringent safety practices in managing exposure incidents. The other choices do not accurately capture the concept of a "source individual." A healthcare worker in direct contact with patients is a different role focused on care provision rather than the potential risk factor associated with blood. A patient who has been treated may not necessarily be considered a source individual unless there is specific information about their blood posing a risk. Meanwhile, a family member of a patient does not fall under the definition of a source individual unless they are also at risk due to potential exposure incident. Therefore, the correct understanding of a source individual specifically pertains to those whose blood may lead