CCS Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cardiovascular specialist notices that a single-use vial of contrast media has been used on multiple patients. This practice poses which PRIMARY risk?
- Reduced imaging quality due to dilution
- Bloodborne pathogen transmission between patients (Correct answer)
- Allergic reactions due to concentration changes
- Equipment malfunction from contamination
Correct answer: Bloodborne pathogen transmission between patients
Reusing single-dose vials risks contaminating the remaining contents with bloodborne pathogens from prior patients, creating serious infection risk.
Question 2: Which electrical safety principle is MOST important when operating cardiac monitoring equipment near patients?
- Using the highest wattage equipment for best performance
- Ensuring proper grounding of all electrical devices (Correct answer)
- Keeping equipment plugged in at all times to avoid surges
- Using extension cords rated for medical use
Correct answer: Ensuring proper grounding of all electrical devices
Proper grounding prevents microshock, which can cause ventricular fibrillation in patients with direct cardiac connections even at currents imperceptible to staff.
Question 3: After completing a cardiac catheterization on a patient with hepatitis C, the specialist should perform hand hygiene using:
- Alcohol-based hand rub only
- Soap and water only
- Either soap/water or alcohol-based hand rub (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic towelettes only
Correct answer: Either soap/water or alcohol-based hand rub
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne pathogen, and standard precautions apply; either soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub is acceptable when hands are not visibly soiled.
Question 4: Which scenario represents a violation of sterile field technique during a cardiac catheterization procedure?
- Handing sterile instruments from above the sterile field level
- Opening sterile packaging by peeling back the wrapper
- Reaching across the sterile field to retrieve an instrument (Correct answer)
- Placing sterile items at the edge of the sterile drape
Correct answer: Reaching across the sterile field to retrieve an instrument
Reaching across a sterile field risks contaminating sterile items with non-sterile sleeves or equipment, breaking the sterile barrier.
Question 5: A patient experiencing a contrast media reaction develops urticaria and bronchospasm. What is the IMMEDIATE pharmacological intervention?
- Diphenhydramine IV only
- Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM (Correct answer)
- Corticosteroids IV bolus
- Albuterol inhaler only
Correct answer: Epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
Anaphylaxis with bronchospasm requires immediate epinephrine 0.3 mg IM in the lateral thigh as the first-line treatment.
Question 6: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when drawing blood from a patient with known HIV infection?
- Gloves, gown, face shield, and N95 respirator
- Gloves only
- Gloves and surgical mask
- No additional PPE beyond standard gloves (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No additional PPE beyond standard gloves
HIV is a bloodborne pathogen with standard precautions requiring only gloves for routine blood draws unless splash risk exists.
Question 7: A cardiovascular lab receives a patient on contact precautions. After the procedure, the room should be cleaned using which approach?
- Standard cleaning with neutral detergent only
- Enhanced terminal cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectant (Correct answer)
- UV light disinfection alone without manual cleaning
- Cleaning deferred until end of the shift
Correct answer: Enhanced terminal cleaning with EPA-registered disinfectant
Terminal cleaning with an EPA-registered disinfectant effective against the specific pathogen is required after contact precaution patients to eliminate surface contamination.
CCS Safety & Infection Control 3
A cardiovascular specialist notices that a single-use vial of contrast media has been used on multiple patients.
This practice poses which PRIMARY risk?