ALF Infection Control and Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hand hygiene method is MOST effective for removing Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores from hands?
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Soap and water handwashing (Correct answer)
- Antimicrobial wipes
- Waterless antiseptic gel
Correct answer: Soap and water handwashing
Soap and water is required for C. diff because alcohol-based products do not kill its spores; mechanical friction and rinsing physically remove them.
Question 2: Under Standard Precautions, an ALF administrator should ensure staff treat the blood and body fluids of ALL residents as:
- Potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Infectious only if the resident has a documented bloodborne illness
- Non-infectious unless visible contamination is present
- Infectious only for residents on isolation precautions
Correct answer: Potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis
Standard Precautions require treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of a resident's known diagnosis.
Question 3: Which type of transmission-based precaution requires placing a resident in a private room with negative air pressure?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Protective environment precautions
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Airborne precautions require a negative-pressure room to prevent airborne particles from spreading to adjacent areas.
Question 4: An ALF is experiencing an outbreak of norovirus among residents. Which is the MOST important immediate intervention?
- Administer antiviral medications to all residents
- Cohort ill residents and enforce strict hand hygiene with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Increase use of alcohol hand gel dispensers throughout the facility
- Restrict all visitor access for 30 days
Correct answer: Cohort ill residents and enforce strict hand hygiene with soap and water
Cohorting ill residents and enforcing soap-and-water hand hygiene are the most effective steps because alcohol gel does not inactivate norovirus reliably.
Question 5: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when performing wound care with anticipated splashing of blood or body fluids?
- Gloves only
- Gloves and gown
- Gloves, gown, and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Gloves and mask only
Correct answer: Gloves, gown, and eye protection
When splashing is anticipated, gloves, a gown, and eye/face protection are all required to protect mucous membranes and skin.
Question 6: How often should high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and handrails be disinfected in an ALF during a respiratory illness outbreak?
- Once weekly
- Once daily
- At least twice daily (Correct answer)
- Only when visibly soiled
Correct answer: At least twice daily
During an outbreak, high-touch surfaces should be disinfected at least twice daily to reduce transmission via contaminated surfaces.
Question 7: Which federal agency sets the infection control guidelines most commonly followed by assisted living facilities in the United States?
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) only
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) only
Correct answer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC develops and publishes the infection control guidelines that form the evidence-based standards used by long-term care and assisted living facilities.
ALF Infection Control and Prevention 1
Which hand hygiene method is MOST effective for removing Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores from hands?