CMLA Infection Control 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization publishes the primary guidelines for isolation precautions used in US hospitals?
- OSHA
- FDA
- CDC/HICPAC (Correct answer)
- The Joint Commission
Correct answer: CDC/HICPAC
The CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) publishes the authoritative guidelines for isolation precautions in US healthcare settings.
Question 2: What is the correct action if a laboratory worker's mucous membranes are splashed with a potentially infectious body fluid?
- Apply antibiotic ointment to the affected area
- Flush with water for at least 15 minutes and report the exposure (Correct answer)
- Wipe with an alcohol swab and continue working
- Place an ice pack on the area and monitor for symptoms
Correct answer: Flush with water for at least 15 minutes and report the exposure
Mucous membrane exposures require immediate flushing with water for a minimum of 15 minutes followed by prompt reporting and post-exposure evaluation.
Question 3: Which of the following specimens requires processing in a Class II biological safety cabinet?
- Routine urine for urinalysis
- Serum for chemistry panel
- Sputum suspected of containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Correct answer)
- Whole blood for a CBC
Correct answer: Sputum suspected of containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Specimens suspected of containing M. tuberculosis must be handled in a Class II BSC to prevent inhalation of aerosolized infectious particles.
Question 4: What does it mean when a microorganism is described as having developed antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer?
- The organism mutated spontaneously over many generations
- The organism acquired resistance genes from another organism without reproduction (Correct answer)
- The organism was exposed to subtherapeutic antibiotic doses
- The organism developed resistance through natural selection alone
Correct answer: The organism acquired resistance genes from another organism without reproduction
Horizontal gene transfer allows bacteria to share resistance genes via plasmids or other mechanisms directly between organisms, independent of reproduction.
Question 5: According to standard precautions, when is it necessary to wear a gown during laboratory specimen processing?
- Only when performing centrifugation
- When splashing or spraying of blood or body fluids is anticipated (Correct answer)
- Whenever entering the laboratory
- Only when processing positive cultures
Correct answer: When splashing or spraying of blood or body fluids is anticipated
Standard precautions require a gown whenever there is a risk of clothing or skin becoming contaminated from splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
Question 6: A laboratory refrigerator used to store patient specimens is found to also contain an employee's lunch. This situation violates which regulation?
- CLIA regulations on specimen storage temperature
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard prohibiting food storage where blood is present (Correct answer)
- FDA food safety guidelines
- CAP accreditation standards on refrigerator capacity
Correct answer: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard prohibiting food storage where blood is present
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard explicitly prohibits storing food or drink in refrigerators where blood or potentially infectious materials are kept.
Question 7: Which of the following is the MOST effective strategy to reduce healthcare-associated infections at the system level?
- Relying solely on PPE for all interactions
- Implementing mandatory hand hygiene compliance monitoring programs (Correct answer)
- Increasing antibiotic prescribing to prevent secondary infections
- Isolating all patients in private rooms regardless of diagnosis
Correct answer: Implementing mandatory hand hygiene compliance monitoring programs
Systematic hand hygiene compliance monitoring and feedback programs have the strongest evidence base for reducing healthcare-associated infection rates.
CMLA Infection Control 5
Which organization publishes the primary guidelines for isolation precautions used in US hospitals?