CCS Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infection is scheduled for cardiac catheterization. Which precaution is MOST appropriate?
- Standard precautions only
- Contact precautions with gown and gloves (Correct answer)
- Airborne precautions with N95 respirator
- Droplet precautions with surgical mask
Correct answer: Contact precautions with gown and gloves
MRSA is transmitted via direct contact, so contact precautions (gown and gloves) are required in addition to standard precautions.
Question 2: During a cardiac stress test, the patient suddenly collapses. What is the FIRST action the cardiovascular specialist should take?
- Call for a crash cart immediately
- Assess responsiveness and call for help (Correct answer)
- Begin chest compressions
- Administer supplemental oxygen
Correct answer: Assess responsiveness and call for help
The first step in any emergency is to assess responsiveness and activate the emergency response system before initiating further interventions.
Question 3: Which hand hygiene technique is considered most effective at reducing healthcare-associated infection transmission?
- Alcohol-based hand rub for visibly soiled hands
- Soap and water for all clinical situations
- Alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic wipes between patient contacts
Correct answer: Alcohol-based hand rub when hands are not visibly soiled
Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred for most clinical situations; soap and water is required when hands are visibly soiled or after Clostridioides difficile exposure.
Question 4: A cardiovascular technologist is about to perform a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). What level of disinfection is required for the TEE probe?
- Low-level disinfection
- Intermediate-level disinfection
- High-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Sterilization
Correct answer: High-level disinfection
TEE probes are semi-critical devices that contact mucous membranes and require high-level disinfection between patient uses.
Question 5: Which action BEST protects a cardiovascular specialist from radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided procedures?
- Standing directly beside the X-ray tube
- Maximizing distance from the radiation source (Correct answer)
- Using a lead apron alone without other shielding
- Increasing procedure speed to reduce total exposure
Correct answer: Maximizing distance from the radiation source
Increasing distance from the radiation source dramatically reduces exposure because radiation intensity decreases with the inverse square of distance.
Question 6: When disposing of a used needle after arterial blood gas collection, the SAFEST practice is to:
- Recap the needle using the two-handed technique before disposal
- Place the uncapped needle directly into a sharps container immediately (Correct answer)
- Bend the needle to prevent reuse before disposal
- Leave the needle on the tray for later disposal
Correct answer: Place the uncapped needle directly into a sharps container immediately
Immediately placing uncapped needles into a puncture-resistant sharps container is the safest method to prevent needlestick injuries.
Question 7: A patient is on airborne precautions for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis and requires an urgent echocardiogram. Which respiratory protection should the cardiovascular specialist wear?
- Standard surgical mask
- N95 respirator or higher (Correct answer)
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) only
- No respiratory protection if fully vaccinated
Correct answer: N95 respirator or higher
Airborne precautions require at minimum a fit-tested N95 respirator to protect against tuberculosis droplet nuclei that remain suspended in air.
CCS Safety & Infection Control 2
A patient with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infection is scheduled for cardiac catheterization.
Which precaution is MOST appropriate?