Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide for Exam Success

The viral infection that is known to require droplet precautions is influenza. This is because influenza is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can be inhaled by individuals nearby or can land on surfaces, where the virus might be transferred to others.

Droplet precautions are part of infection control practices that aim to prevent the spread of infections through respiratory droplets, particularly in healthcare settings where close contact with patients can occur. In the case of influenza, implementing droplet precautions, such as wearing masks and ensuring proper hand hygiene, can significantly reduce the transmission risk during outbreaks or in cases of severe viral illness.

Understanding the specific transmission routes of each virus helps in determining the appropriate precautions needed to protect both healthcare workers and patients from infection. In contrast to influenza, other options like the common cold may also spread via droplets but usually do not require the same level of precautions as influenza, while hepatitis and HIV are primarily spread through blood or other body fluids, necessitating different types of precautions.