Infection Control & Sanitation Flashcards

Color-coding of cleaning tools and cloths is used in professional cleaning primarily to:

Answer: Prevent cross-contamination by designating specific tools for specific areas

Color-coding systems (e.g., red for restrooms, blue for general areas, green for food prep zones) prevent cross-contamination by ensuring tools used in high-risk areas are never used in lower-risk or food-contact areas.

What minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) should custodians wear when cleaning and disinfecting restrooms?

Answer: Gloves and eye protection at minimum; additional PPE per product label requirements

Restrooms contain biological hazards and disinfectants that can harm skin and eyes; at minimum, gloves and eye protection must be worn, with additional PPE as specified on the disinfectant's SDS/label.

Which of the following is considered a 'high-touch' surface requiring more frequent disinfection in a typical office building?

Answer: Door handles and elevator buttons

High-touch surfaces like door handles and elevator buttons are contacted repeatedly by many people throughout the day, making them primary vectors for pathogen transmission and requiring more frequent disinfection.

MRSA stands for:

Answer: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterium that can survive on surfaces and is a key target pathogen in healthcare and facility infection control programs.

To prevent cross-contamination, soiled microfiber cloths used in cleaning should be:

Answer: Collected separately and laundered at appropriate temperatures before reuse

Used microfiber cloths must be collected in a designated soiled-laundry container and laundered at the appropriate temperature to kill pathogens before being reused, preventing the spread of contaminants.

In which situation is a sporicidal disinfectant specifically required rather than a standard disinfectant?

Answer: When disinfecting areas known or suspected to be contaminated with C. diff

C. difficile produces hardy spores that resist standard disinfectants, so EPA-registered sporicidal products (typically bleach-based at appropriate concentrations) are required to decontaminate affected areas.

What is the recommended CDC concentration for a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution used to disinfect surfaces against most bacteria and viruses?

Answer: 500–1,000 ppm (approximately 1/3 to 2/3 cup of 5.25% bleach per gallon of water)

The CDC recommends a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 500–1,000 ppm for general surface disinfection, which corresponds to approximately 1/3 to 2/3 cup of standard 5.25% household bleach per gallon of water.