CMI Infection Control & Sanitation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Color-coding of cleaning tools and cloths is used in professional cleaning primarily to:
- Make the cleaning cart more visually appealing to building occupants
- Help custodians identify which products to use with each tool
- Prevent cross-contamination by designating specific tools for specific areas (Correct answer)
- Comply with OSHA labeling requirements for chemical containers
Correct 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.
Question 2: What minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) should custodians wear when cleaning and disinfecting restrooms?
- No PPE is required for routine restroom cleaning
- Only a face mask is required
- Gloves and eye protection at minimum; additional PPE per product label requirements (Correct answer)
- Full Tyvek suit and respirator for all restroom tasks
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which of the following is considered a 'high-touch' surface requiring more frequent disinfection in a typical office building?
- Ceiling tiles
- Interior window glass
- Door handles and elevator buttons (Correct answer)
- Baseboards
Correct 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.
Question 4: MRSA stands for:
- Multi-Resistant Sanitation Agency
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Correct answer)
- Microbial Reduction Standard Assessment
- Maximum Recommended Surface Application
Correct 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.
Question 5: To prevent cross-contamination, soiled microfiber cloths used in cleaning should be:
- Rinsed in the mop bucket and reused immediately in the same area
- Discarded after a single use regardless of soil level
- Collected separately and laundered at appropriate temperatures before reuse (Correct answer)
- Air-dried and stored in the cleaning cart for the next shift
Correct 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.
Question 6: In which situation is a sporicidal disinfectant specifically required rather than a standard disinfectant?
- When cleaning stainless steel surfaces in an office kitchen
- When disinfecting areas known or suspected to be contaminated with C. diff (Correct answer)
- When mopping a gymnasium floor after a sporting event
- When cleaning glass windows in a school hallway
Correct 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.
Question 7: What is the recommended CDC concentration for a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution used to disinfect surfaces against most bacteria and viruses?
- 500–1,000 ppm (approximately 1/3 to 2/3 cup of 5.25% bleach per gallon of water) (Correct answer)
- 50 ppm (a few drops per gallon)
- 10,000 ppm (undiluted bleach)
- 100 ppm (a teaspoon per gallon)
Correct 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.
CMI Infection Control & Sanitation 2
Color-coding of cleaning tools and cloths is used in professional cleaning primarily to: