Safety and Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real APC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety and Infection Control flashcards as text
A pharmacy is conducting a root cause analysis (RCA) after a medication error. What is the primary goal of an RCA in this context?
Answer: To identify systemic failures and implement preventive changes
RCA aims to identify underlying systemic and process failures, not individual blame, so that corrective actions prevent recurrence.
Which international standard provides guidelines for hand hygiene in healthcare settings that Australian pharmacies reference?
Answer: WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care
The WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (2009) is the internationally recognised reference adopted across Australian healthcare settings.
Which of the following is classified as a 'near miss' in pharmacy safety terminology?
Answer: A dispensing error caught before the medication reached the patient
A near miss in dispensing is an error intercepted before reaching the patient; this is the most valuable type of event for learning and prevention.
When is it appropriate to use sporicidal disinfectants (e.g., chlorine-based solutions) rather than standard alcohol disinfectants in the pharmacy?
Answer: Following a confirmed or suspected Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) contamination event
C. difficile produces spores that are resistant to alcohol; sporicidal agents such as sodium hypochlorite are required to decontaminate affected surfaces.
Which of the following best describes 'standard precautions' in the context of community pharmacy practice?
Answer: A minimum set of infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of their infection status
Standard precautions treat all blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious, regardless of diagnosis, protecting both staff and patients.
A compounding pharmacist develops a rash on their forearms after handling a new base cream ingredient. The most appropriate immediate action is:
Answer: Remove contaminated clothing, wash the affected area, and report to a supervisor as a workplace injury
A skin reaction to a workplace chemical must be treated immediately by decontamination and reported as a workplace injury for assessment and investigation.
Which document in an Australian pharmacy legally requires employers to record all workplace injuries, including needlestick injuries and chemical exposures?
Answer: The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Incident Register
The WHS Incident Register is the legally mandated record of all workplace injuries, near misses, and hazardous incidents under Australian WHS legislation.