CER Microbiology and Infection Control Questions and Answers 5

Question 1

An automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) cycle fails mid-process due to a power interruption. The endoscope should be:

Accepted Answer

Removed, manually inspected, and reprocessed from the beginning with a complete cycle

Answer

An incomplete AER cycle cannot guarantee HLD; the scope must undergo a full reprocessing cycle from the start before patient use.

Question 2

In infection control, the term 'reservoir' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The person, animal, or environment where an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies

Answer

A reservoir is the natural habitat or source where a pathogen survives and replicates before being transmitted to a susceptible host.

Question 3

Which reprocessing protocol modification is specifically recommended for duodenoscopes following multiple CRE outbreak investigations?

Accepted Answer

Microbiological culturing and quarantine-until-negative or additional sterilization methods

Answer

FDA and CDC have recommended enhanced reprocessing including microbiological surveillance culturing with quarantine-until-negative results or sterilization due to duodenoscope elevator mechanism contamination risks.

Question 4

Hand hygiene with soap and water is PREFERRED over alcohol-based hand rubs when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated with which organism?

Accepted Answer

Clostridium difficile

Answer

Alcohol does not kill C. difficile spores; soap and water mechanically removes spores from hands more effectively than alcohol-based products.

Question 5

What does the term 'reuse life' refer to in the context of high-level disinfectant solutions?

Accepted Answer

The maximum number of days or cycles a prepared HLD solution can be used without losing efficacy

Answer

Reuse life is the validated period during which an activated/diluted HLD solution maintains minimum effective concentration when tested with MEC strips and not exceeded in volume capacity.

CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor Practice Test

CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor Practice Test

CER Microbiology and Infection Control Questions and Answers 5