Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: hepatitis C needlestick: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: hepatitis C needlestick

Sample item

A health care worker has a needlestick injury from an anti-HCV positive patient. Which statement about post-exposure management is correct?

AProphylactic interferon for six months is mandatoryBHepatitis C immunoglobulin must be given within 24 hoursCNo prophylaxis is available, so baseline and follow-up testing are doneDA single dose of hepatitis C vaccine should be given

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. No prophylaxis is available, so baseline and follow-up testing are done

There is no vaccine or effective immunoglobulin for hepatitis C. Management is baseline testing of the worker and follow-up with HCV RNA or antibody testing, with treatment started if infection is detected.

Option by option

A. Prophylactic interferon for six months is mandatory
Prophylactic interferon is not recommended after exposure.
B. Hepatitis C immunoglobulin must be given within 24 hours
Immunoglobulin has no proven protective effect against hepatitis C.
C. No prophylaxis is available, so baseline and follow-up testing are done (correct)
Correct. No effective post-exposure prophylaxis exists, so monitoring and early treatment are used.
D. A single dose of hepatitis C vaccine should be given
No vaccine exists for hepatitis C.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, No prophylaxis is available, so baseline and follow-up testing are done. There is no vaccine or effective immunoglobulin for hepatitis C.

Why is "Prophylactic interferon for six months is mandatory" not the answer?

Prophylactic interferon is not recommended after exposure.

Why is "Hepatitis C immunoglobulin must be given within 24 hours" not the answer?

Immunoglobulin has no proven protective effect against hepatitis C.

Why is "A single dose of hepatitis C vaccine should be given" not the answer?

No vaccine exists for hepatitis C.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: hepatitis C needlestick in Microbiology. Management is baseline testing of the worker and follow-up with HCV RNA or antibody testing, with treatment started if infection is detected.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Clinical microbiology and hospital infection control: hepatitis C needlestick?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.