CBSPD - Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Microbiology and Infection Control Questions and Answers

Question 1

A technician is reprocessing surgical instruments used on a patient with suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Which of the following microorganisms is the cause of this disease and is known for its extreme resistance to standard sterilization processes?

Accepted Answer

Prion

Answer

Fungi

Answer

Bacteria

Answer

Virus

Question 2

A new sterile processing technician is learning about the classification of bacteria. The supervisor explains that the result of a Gram stain is determined by the composition of the bacterial cell wall. Which of the following correctly describes a key difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and lack an outer membrane.

Answer

Gram-positive bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.

Answer

Gram-negative bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer and lack an outer membrane.

Answer

Gram-negative bacteria stain purple because their thick wall retains the crystal violet stain.

Question 3

A healthcare worker touches a contaminated bed rail and then, without performing hand hygiene, touches a patient's intravenous (IV) site, leading to an infection. This scenario is an example of which mode of transmission?

Accepted Answer

Indirect contact transmission

Answer

Droplet transmission

Answer

Airborne transmission

Answer

Direct contact transmission

Question 4

Which of the following environmental factors is essential for the growth and reproduction of virtually all microorganisms and is a key reason why instruments must be thoroughly dried before storage?

Accepted Answer

Moisture

Answer

Acidity (low pH)

Answer

Absence of oxygen

Answer

Cool temperature (below 5°C)

Question 5

During the cleaning process, a technician notices a slimy, resistant layer on a complex surgical instrument that has been sitting for several hours before decontamination. This layer, which can protect microorganisms from disinfectants and sterilants, is known as:

Accepted Answer

A biofilm

Answer

A spore

Answer

A capsule

Answer

An endotoxin

Question 6

Certain types of bacteria, such as those from the Bacillus and Clostridium genera, can form a highly resistant, dormant structure to survive harsh environmental conditions like heat, chemicals, and desiccation. What is this structure called?

Accepted Answer

Spore

Answer

Capsule

Answer

Flagellum

Answer

Virus