CMA Infection Control and Safety 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following pathogens requires the highest level of sterilization because it is resistant to standard disinfection methods?
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- Prions (misfolded proteins causing diseases like CJD) (Correct answer)
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Clostridium difficile spores
Correct answer: Prions (misfolded proteins causing diseases like CJD)
Prions are extraordinarily resistant to conventional sterilization methods and require specialized decontamination protocols such as prolonged autoclaving at elevated temperatures.
Question 2: A patient is placed on droplet precautions. At what distance must the patient be from others for droplet transmission to be considered a risk?
- More than 6 feet away
- Within 3 feet
- Within 6 feet (approximately 1–2 meters) (Correct answer)
- Only during direct physical contact
Correct answer: Within 6 feet (approximately 1–2 meters)
Droplet transmission occurs within approximately 6 feet (1–2 meters) because large respiratory droplets settle quickly under gravity and do not remain airborne.
Question 3: What is the PASS acronym used for when operating a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (Correct answer)
- Prepare, Activate, Spray, Step back
- Pull, Aim, Spray, Secure
- Position, Alert, Squeeze, Sweep
Correct answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side to properly operate a fire extinguisher.
Question 4: Which of the following items is classified as a critical medical device requiring sterilization before use?
- Blood pressure cuff
- Otoscope ear speculum
- Surgical scalpel (Correct answer)
- Pulse oximeter probe
Correct answer: Surgical scalpel
Critical devices such as surgical scalpels enter sterile body tissue or the vascular system and must be sterile to prevent infection.
Question 5: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, which employees must be offered the Hepatitis B vaccine?
- All hospital employees regardless of job duties
- Only employees who have already experienced a needlestick injury
- Employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (Correct answer)
- Employees who request it and pay for it themselves
Correct answer: Employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials
OSHA requires employers to offer the Hepatitis B vaccine series at no cost to employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a biological indicator (BI) in sterilization monitoring?
- To test the chemical concentration of the sterilizing agent
- To verify that the sterilizer reached the correct temperature and pressure
- To confirm that viable microorganisms were destroyed during the sterilization cycle (Correct answer)
- To check that instruments were properly cleaned before sterilization
Correct answer: To confirm that viable microorganisms were destroyed during the sterilization cycle
A biological indicator contains highly resistant spores (typically Geobacillus stearothermophilus) that confirm all viable microorganisms were destroyed, providing the most definitive sterilization verification.
Question 7: When a medical assistant receives a call about a potential chemical spill in the lab, the first action should be:
- Immediately attempt to contain the spill personally
- Evacuate the area and notify the appropriate personnel according to facility protocol (Correct answer)
- Call 911 before taking any other action
- Continue regular duties until the supervisor arrives
Correct answer: Evacuate the area and notify the appropriate personnel according to facility protocol
The first response to a chemical spill is to evacuate the affected area and notify the appropriate personnel (safety officer, supervisor) per facility protocol before any cleanup attempt.
CMA Infection Control and Safety 5
Which of the following pathogens requires the highest level of sterilization because it is resistant to standard disinfection methods?