Infection Control and Sterilization Flashcards
7 cards from real CCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Control and Sterilization flashcards as text
A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis is being admitted. Which type of isolation precautions should be implemented?
Answer: Airborne precautions
Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring airborne precautions including a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.
Which chemical indicator is used to verify that steam sterilization conditions were adequate inside a wrapped pack?
Answer: Internal chemical integrator
An internal chemical integrator placed inside the pack responds to all critical sterilization parameters (time, temperature, steam) to verify adequate exposure.
When performing a wound dressing change using sterile technique, the medical assistant accidentally touches the sterile field with a bare hand. What is the correct action?
Answer: Discard the field and set up a new sterile field
Any break in sterile technique contaminates the entire field; the field must be discarded and a completely new sterile setup must be established.
Which of the following pathogens is most resistant to standard disinfection and sterilization methods, requiring special decontamination protocols?
Answer: Clostridium difficile spores
C. difficile spores are highly resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers and many disinfectants, requiring soap and water hand hygiene and sporicidal agents like bleach.
A medical assistant is processing reusable instruments after a procedure. What is the correct order of steps?
Answer: Clean → Rinse → Disinfect → Sterilize
Instruments must be cleaned and rinsed first to remove organic debris before disinfection or sterilization can be effective.
Which of the following is an example of a fomite in the healthcare setting?
Answer: A contaminated blood pressure cuff
A fomite is an inanimate object that can harbor and transmit infectious agents; a contaminated blood pressure cuff is a classic example.
After using an autoclave, the biological indicator results show growth after incubation. What does this mean?
Answer: The sterilization cycle failed and affected items must be recalled
Bacterial spore growth in a biological indicator confirms sterilization failure; all items from that load must be recalled and reprocessed.