BRPT Infection Control and Safety Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: EEG gold cup electrodes that are reused between patients should be processed using which minimum standard?
- Low-level disinfection with a quaternary ammonium compound
- Intermediate-level disinfection with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe
- High-level disinfection or sterilization (Correct answer)
- Simple soap and water wash
Correct answer: High-level disinfection or sterilization
Reusable EEG electrodes are semi-critical items that contact broken skin and require at minimum high-level disinfection or sterilization between patients.
Question 2: Glutaraldehyde (e.g., Cidex) used for high-level disinfection of sleep study equipment is considered hazardous because it:
- Is carcinogenic at any exposure level
- Can cause respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and mucous membrane damage (Correct answer)
- Inactivates all viruses but not bacteria
- Must be heated above 60°C to be effective
Correct answer: Can cause respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and mucous membrane damage
Glutaraldehyde vapors are toxic and can cause significant respiratory irritation, occupational asthma, and skin/mucous membrane sensitization, requiring proper ventilation and PPE.
Question 3: Which sterilization method is preferred for heat-sensitive sleep lab equipment such as CPAP circuit tubing?
- Steam autoclave at 134°C
- Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization (Correct answer)
- Dry heat at 160°C for 2 hours
- Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization
Ethylene oxide gas sterilization operates at low temperatures and is preferred for heat-sensitive items like plastic CPAP circuit tubing.
Question 4: A patient arrives for a sleep study with an active MRSA wound infection. Which precautions should be implemented in addition to Standard Precautions?
- Airborne precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Contact precautions (Correct answer)
- Reverse isolation
Correct answer: Contact precautions
MRSA is transmitted by direct or indirect contact, so contact precautions (gown and gloves) must be added to Standard Precautions to prevent spread.
Question 5: After removing PPE following care of an isolation patient, in which order should items be removed to minimize self-contamination?
- Gloves → goggles/face shield → gown → mask/respirator → hand hygiene
- Gown → gloves → goggles/face shield → mask/respirator → hand hygiene
- Mask → gloves → gown → goggles → hand hygiene
- Gloves → gown → goggles/face shield → mask/respirator → hand hygiene (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Gloves → gown → goggles/face shield → mask/respirator → hand hygiene
CDC recommends removing gloves first (most contaminated), then gown, then goggles/face shield, and finally the mask/respirator, with hand hygiene after removing gloves and again after all PPE is removed.
Question 6: Which agent is classified as an intermediate-level disinfectant and is commonly used for routine cleaning of sleep lab environmental surfaces?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol (Correct answer)
- 0.5% hydrogen peroxide
- Glutaraldehyde 2.4%
Correct answer: 70% isopropyl alcohol
70% isopropyl alcohol is an intermediate-level disinfectant effective against mycobacteria, most viruses, and vegetative bacteria, making it suitable for environmental surface disinfection.
Question 7: When must a polysomnographic technologist change gloves during a patient sleep study?
- Only when moving between patients
- Only when gloves are visibly torn
- Between contact with different body sites on the same patient and between patients (Correct answer)
- Once per hour regardless of contact type
Correct answer: Between contact with different body sites on the same patient and between patients
Gloves must be changed between contact with different body sites on the same patient to prevent cross-contamination and always between patients.
BRPT Infection Control and Safety Protocols 2
EEG gold cup electrodes that are reused between patients should be processed using which minimum standard?