ABCN Safety and Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A neuropsychologist is testing a patient with active tuberculosis. Which respiratory precaution is MOST appropriate?
- Droplet precautions with a surgical mask
- Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- Contact precautions with gloves and gown only
- Standard precautions are sufficient
Correct answer: Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator
Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions including an N95 respirator because TB bacilli travel on small aerosol particles that remain suspended in air.
Question 2: A patient discloses they are HIV-positive prior to neuropsychological testing. How should this affect the examiner's use of standard precautions?
- Standard precautions should be intensified for HIV-positive patients
- Standard precautions remain unchanged because they already assume all blood is infectious (Correct answer)
- Gloves must be double-layered for all contact with HIV-positive patients
- Testing should be conducted via telehealth only
Correct answer: Standard precautions remain unchanged because they already assume all blood is infectious
Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis, so no change in technique is warranted.
Question 3: Which of the following is the CORRECT order of donning (putting on) PPE before entering an isolation room?
- Gloves → Gown → Mask → Eye protection
- Gown → Mask/respirator → Eye protection → Gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask → Gloves → Gown → Eye protection
- Eye protection → Gown → Gloves → Mask
Correct answer: Gown → Mask/respirator → Eye protection → Gloves
CDC guidelines specify donning in the order: gown, mask/respirator, eye protection, then gloves, to minimize contamination of cleaner PPE layers.
Question 4: A neuropsychology technician accidentally sticks herself with a used lancet while testing a patient with unknown hepatitis status. What is the FIRST action she should take?
- Report the incident to her supervisor immediately
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet above the puncture site
- Request immediate HIV prophylaxis from the pharmacy
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Immediate washing of a needlestick wound with soap and water is the first response to reduce pathogen load before any other steps.
Question 5: Which disinfectant level is required to process reusable neuropsychological test manipulatives that contact intact skin but not mucous membranes?
- Sterilization
- High-level disinfection
- Low-level or intermediate-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Alcohol-based hand rub alone
Correct answer: Low-level or intermediate-level disinfection
Items categorized as 'noncritical' (intact skin contact only) require low- to intermediate-level disinfection per the Spaulding classification system.
Question 6: A clinician notices that a patient with C. difficile is using the same restroom as other outpatients. Which precaution type is specifically indicated for C. difficile transmission prevention?
- Airborne precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Contact precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions with alcohol hand gel
Correct answer: Contact precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene
C. difficile requires contact precautions and soap-and-water handwashing because alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not inactivate its spores.
Question 7: When should a neuropsychologist perform hand hygiene during a patient encounter, according to WHO's 'Five Moments'?
- Only before and after the session
- Before touching the patient, before aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure, after touching the patient, and after touching surroundings (Correct answer)
- After touching the patient and after body fluid exposure only
- Whenever gloves are removed
Correct answer: Before touching the patient, before aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure, after touching the patient, and after touching surroundings
WHO's Five Moments for Hand Hygiene specify five distinct critical points to prevent pathogen transfer between patients and the healthcare environment.
ABCN Safety and Infection Control 2
A neuropsychologist is testing a patient with active tuberculosis.
Which respiratory precaution is MOST appropriate?