Deck 4: Principles of Infection Control

Question 1

Which of the following characteristics is true for iodophors as disinfectants?

A)water soluble
B)nonstaining
C)less irritating to tissue
D)all the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the most common route of pathogen transmission in the hospital setting?

A)indirect contact
B)droplet transmission
C)airborne transmission
D)surgical transmission

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What vaccination does OSHA require hospital employers to provide?

A)tuberculosis
B)smallpox
C)hepatitis B
D)Streptococcus pneumoniae

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Exposure to which of the following organisms calls for postexposure chemoprophylaxis?

A) N. meningitides
B) B. pertussis
C) B. anthracis
D) all the above

Question 5

Which of the following is considered the primary source of infection in the health care setting?

A)medical equipment
B)humans
C)food and water
D)carpet

Question 6

Which of the following organisms is NOT destroyed by a disinfection agent?

A)gram-negative cocci
B)bacterial spores
C)gram-positive rods
D)viruses

Question 7

What should be used to wipe down the surface of devices that cannot be immersed in water?

A)70% ethyl alcohol
B)warm soapy water
C)strong detergent
D)bleach

Question 8

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of phenolics as a disinfectant?

A)They are bactericidal.
B)They are fungicidal.
C)They are ineffective on surfaces shortly after application.
D)They cause tissue irritation.

Question 9

About how many people die each year in the United States from hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)?

A)5,000
B)25,000
C)90,000
D)250,000

Question 10

What solution should be used to disinfect the surfaces of the room of a patient who was infected with

A)70% ethyl alcohol
B)5.25% sodium hypochlorite
C)1% sodium benzoate
C) difficile?
D)5% iodine solution

Question 11

Which of the following diseases is transmitted primarily by airborne transmission?

A)tuberculosis
B)measles
C)smallpox
D)all the above

Question 12

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of soaps to clean equipment?

A)Soaps act by lowering the surface tension.
B)Soaps work poorly in hard water.
C)Soaps have good bactericidal activity.
D)Soaps can help remove organic material.

Question 13

What is the first step in equipment processing for reuse on another patient?

A)drying the equipment
B)cleaning the equipment
C)disinfecting the equipment
D)sterilizing the equipment

Question 14

All of the following factors increase the risk of surgical patients for developing postoperative pneumonia except:

A)obesity
B)prolonged intubation
C)history of smoking
D)all the above

Question 15

What techniques are used by most hospitals to reduce host susceptibility to infection?

A)immunization
B)chemoprophylaxis
C)surveillance
D)both A and B

Question 16

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of alcohol disinfectants?

A)Their activity drops when diluted below 50% concentration.
B)Alcohols are good for surface cleaning of stethoscope bells and diaphragms.
C)They can damage rubber tubing.
D)They are considered sporicidal.

Question 17

If you are caring for a patient who is suspected of having SARS, at what distance from the patient is it recommended to wear an effective filtration mask?

A)6 feet
B)10 feet
C)12 feet
D)15 feet

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of indirect contact transmission involving fomites?

A)use of a sterile needle on a pneumonia patient
B)use of a dirty nebulizer on another patient
C)drinking tap water
D)inhaling tuberculosis pathogens in the emergency department

Question 19

How do endotracheal tubes increase the risk of infection?

A)impeding local host defenses
B)providing surfaces for biofilms to develop
C)by reducing neutrophil effectiveness
D)both A and B

Question 20

Approximately what percent of patients receiving mechanical ventilation develop pneumonia as a complication?

A)1%
B)10%
C)15%
D)25%

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT one of the five key recommended components of an infection control program in the hospital setting?

A)development
B)surveillance
C)investigation
D)reporting

Question 22

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of ETO for sterilization?

A)It is harmless to rubber and plastics.
B)Will penetrate prewrapping.
C)Acute exposure is of little consequence.
D)It is useful for equipment that cannot be autoclaved.

Question 23

What is the recommended dilution level of bleach according to the CDC for cleaning up blood spills?

A)1:1
B)1:5
C)1:10
D)1:20

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a category under Expanded Precautions?

A)Contact precautions
B)Droplet precautions
C)Standard precautions
D)Airborne Infection Isolation

Question 25

Which of the following steps for disinfection of a bronchoscope is NOT true?

A)The first step is cleaning the scope.
B)Disinfection is done by immersion in a liquid disinfectant.
C)The device is stored lying flat to promote drying.
D)Drying techniques can include forced air.

Question 26

Which of the following organisms has been associated with health care-associated infections in patients using a poorly disinfected bronchoscope?

A)M. tuberculosis
B)Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C)Klebsiella
D)both A and B

Question 27

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of glutaraldehyde?

A)It is a true sterilizing agent when used properly.
B)It can retain activity up to 90 days once activated.
C)It is not used for disinfection on surfaces due to cost.
D)It can cause significant tissue inflammation in workers who use it.

Question 28

What is the most common, efficient, and easiest sterilization method?

A)ETO
B)flash sterilization
C)steam sterilization
D)use of hydrochlorofluorcarbon

Question 29

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the use of disposable respiratory care equipment?

A)Recent research supports their use as a cost-effective measure.
B)Many quality issues exist.
C)Reusing the equipment is often done.
D)All of the above are true.

Question 30

Which of the following is the most common source of patient infections?

A)large-volume nebulizers
B)small-volume nebulizers
C)internal circuits of a ventilator
D)oxygen therapy devices

Question 31

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the use of sterile gloves in the hospital setting?

A)They should be worn for all invasive procedures.
B)They should not be used as a substitute for handwashing.
C)The same pair can be used on numerous patients if noninvasive procedures are done.
D)They may have small invisible defects that cause contamination of the user's hands.

Question 32

What is the minimum recommended time for handwashing in the health care environment?

A)5 seconds
B)15 seconds
C)30 seconds
D)60 seconds