APC Safety and Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When preparing cytotoxic medications, which type of biological safety cabinet (BSC) must be used?
- Class I BSC
- Class II Type A2 BSC
- Class II Type B2 or Class III BSC (Correct answer)
- Laminar flow clean bench
Correct answer: Class II Type B2 or Class III BSC
Class II Type B2 or Class III cabinets provide 100% exhaust to the outside, preventing cytotoxic vapour recirculation into the room.
Question 2: A pharmacy staff member sustains a needlestick injury from a needle used on an HIV-positive patient. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should ideally be commenced within:
- 72 hours (Correct answer)
- 24 hours
- 1 hour
- 1 week
Correct answer: 72 hours
PEP is most effective when started within 72 hours of exposure, though earlier initiation yields better outcomes.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of an engineering control in pharmacy infection prevention?
- Mandatory hand hygiene policy
- Staff training on aseptic technique
- Installation of sharps containers at point of use (Correct answer)
- Use of gloves when handling sharps
Correct answer: Installation of sharps containers at point of use
Engineering controls are physical modifications to the environment such as sharps containers that reduce the risk of injury without relying on individual behaviour.
Question 4: Which hand hygiene moment, according to the WHO '5 Moments' framework, is most critical BEFORE a pharmacy compounding procedure?
- After touching patient surroundings
- Before touching a patient
- Before an aseptic procedure (Correct answer)
- After body fluid exposure risk
Correct answer: Before an aseptic procedure
Moment 3 — before an aseptic procedure — is the most critical in compounding to prevent contamination of sterile products.
Question 5: A pharmacist is counselling staff on proper respiratory hygiene. Which measure is most effective at preventing droplet transmission of influenza in the pharmacy?
- N95 respirator for all staff at all times
- Surgical mask offered to coughing patients at the counter (Correct answer)
- UV air sterilisation units in dispensary
- Mandatory 2-metre distancing between all patients
Correct answer: Surgical mask offered to coughing patients at the counter
Offering a surgical mask to symptomatic patients at point of entry (source control) is the single most effective measure to reduce droplet spread.
Question 6: What does the term 'aseptic non-touch technique' (ANTT) require the practitioner to identify and protect?
- The patient's skin insertion site only
- Key parts and key sites that must never be contaminated (Correct answer)
- The sterile field around the entire procedure tray
- All surfaces within 1 metre of the procedure
Correct answer: Key parts and key sites that must never be contaminated
ANTT requires identification and protection of key parts (critical components such as needle hubs) and key sites (insertion sites) throughout any aseptic procedure.
Question 7: In a community pharmacy, medication waste that is cytotoxic must be disposed of in:
- Yellow lidded sharps container
- Purple lidded cytotoxic waste container (Correct answer)
- Black general waste bin
- Blue pharmaceutical waste container
Correct answer: Purple lidded cytotoxic waste container
Purple-lidded containers are the Australian standard for cytotoxic waste, distinguishing it from other pharmaceutical and sharps waste streams.
APC Safety and Infection Control 3
When preparing cytotoxic medications, which type of biological safety cabinet (BSC) must be used?