CCS Infection Control & Safety Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the chain of infection?
- The sequence of events that must occur for an infectious disease to spread from one host to another (Correct answer)
- The list of reportable diseases required by state law
- The hierarchy of PPE used during patient care
- The protocol for sterilizing reusable medical equipment
Correct answer: The sequence of events that must occur for an infectious disease to spread from one host to another
The chain of infection describes the six linked elements — pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host — that must all be present for infection to spread.
Question 2: A client on contact precautions requires assistance with ambulation in the hallway. Which PPE is required for the care specialist?
- N95 respirator only
- Gloves and gown (Correct answer)
- Face shield only
- No PPE is needed since the client will be out of the isolation room
Correct answer: Gloves and gown
Contact precautions require gloves and gown whenever direct contact with the client or their environment is anticipated, regardless of location.
Question 3: What is the minimum recommended time for performing hand hygiene with soap and water to effectively reduce pathogens?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens.
Question 4: Which Clostridium difficile (C. diff) characteristic makes alcohol-based hand sanitizer INEFFECTIVE against it?
- C. diff produces a protective biofilm
- C. diff forms spores that alcohol cannot destroy (Correct answer)
- C. diff is a virus, not a bacterium
- C. diff is resistant to all forms of disinfection
Correct answer: C. diff forms spores that alcohol cannot destroy
C. diff produces hardy spores that are not killed by alcohol; soap and water must be used instead to physically remove spores from hands.
Question 5: When disinfecting a surface after a blood spill, which EPA-registered product concentration of bleach solution is recommended?
- 1:10 (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) (Correct answer)
- 1:100 (1 part bleach to 100 parts water)
- Undiluted bleach applied directly
- 1:50 (1 part bleach to 50 parts water)
Correct answer: 1:10 (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
A 1:10 bleach solution is the CDC-recommended concentration for disinfecting surfaces contaminated with blood or body fluids.
Question 6: A care specialist develops a productive cough and low-grade fever before a scheduled shift. What is the most appropriate action?
- Report to work and wear a surgical mask throughout the shift
- Call in sick, notify the supervisor, and follow the facility's exposure control policy (Correct answer)
- Work only with clients who do not have respiratory conditions
- Take over-the-counter cold medication and report normally
Correct answer: Call in sick, notify the supervisor, and follow the facility's exposure control policy
A symptomatic healthcare worker poses an infection risk to vulnerable clients and should not report to work without supervisory guidance.
Question 7: Which of the following describes 'sterilization' as distinct from 'disinfection'?
- Sterilization reduces microbial load while disinfection eliminates all microorganisms
- Sterilization eliminates all microorganisms including spores; disinfection reduces but may not eliminate all (Correct answer)
- Sterilization is used only on skin; disinfection is used on hard surfaces
- Sterilization and disinfection are interchangeable terms in healthcare settings
Correct answer: Sterilization eliminates all microorganisms including spores; disinfection reduces but may not eliminate all
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life including spores, while disinfection significantly reduces pathogen numbers but may not eliminate highly resistant spores.
CCS Infection Control & Safety Procedures 3
Which of the following BEST describes the chain of infection?