Safety and Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real ASPT 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
Which of the following pathogens is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and requires contact precautions with special attention to hand washing with soap and water?
Answer: Clostridium difficile
C. difficile produces spores that are not killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, so soap and water must be used, and contact precautions are required to prevent fecal-oral spread.
The 'reservoir' in the chain of infection refers to:
Answer: The place where the infectious agent lives and multiplies
A reservoir is the habitat (human, animal, or environmental) where the infectious agent normally lives, multiplies, and from which it can be transmitted.
A phlebotomist sustains a needlestick from a needle used on a patient with known HIV. After first aid, the NEXT step is to:
Answer: Report immediately to occupational health or a supervisor
Immediate reporting to occupational health is critical because post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV must be started as soon as possible, ideally within 2 hours of exposure.
Which item is classified as biohazardous waste and must be discarded in a red bag or biohazard container?
Answer: Blood-saturated gauze pads from a venipuncture site
Blood-saturated gauze is regulated medical waste and must be discarded in a properly labeled biohazard container, not in regular trash.
Standard Precautions apply to which of the following?
Answer: Blood, all body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes of ALL patients
Standard Precautions treat blood, all body fluids (except sweat unless visibly bloody), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes from every patient as potentially infectious.
The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000 requires employers to:
Answer: Involve non-managerial employees in selecting safer needle devices
The Act mandates that frontline workers who use sharps be involved in evaluating and selecting safer needle devices to ensure practical input on what actually reduces injury.
Which PPE item is most important when performing a venipuncture on a patient with a known bloodborne infection?
Answer: Gloves
Gloves are mandatory for all venipunctures under Standard Precautions and are the primary PPE barrier protecting against blood contact during phlebotomy.