CNA Infection Control and Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident with MRSA is on contact precautions. Which statement about their room placement is CORRECT?
- They must share a room only with other MRSA patients
- A private room or cohorting with same-organism patients is preferred (Correct answer)
- They must always be in a negative-pressure room
- Room placement does not matter with contact precautions
Correct answer: A private room or cohorting with same-organism patients is preferred
Contact precautions ideally use a private room, or cohorting (placing patients with the same organism together) when a private room is unavailable.
Question 2: Which type of transmission requires an N95 respirator rather than a surgical mask?
- Contact transmission
- Droplet transmission
- Airborne transmission (Correct answer)
- Vector-borne transmission
Correct answer: Airborne transmission
Airborne precautions (e.g., tuberculosis, measles) require a fit-tested N95 respirator because particles remain suspended in the air over long distances.
Question 3: When changing a resident's soiled bed linens, the CNA should:
- Shake the linen to remove debris before placing in the bag
- Roll soiled linen inward and place it directly in the linen bag (Correct answer)
- Carry soiled linen against the uniform to the laundry room
- Leave soiled linen on the floor temporarily
Correct answer: Roll soiled linen inward and place it directly in the linen bag
Rolling soiled linen inward contains contaminants and prevents dispersal of microorganisms into the air.
Question 4: The 'chain of infection' concept is used in infection control to:
- Rank infections by severity
- Identify weak links that can be broken to prevent disease spread (Correct answer)
- Document which patients have infections
- Determine antibiotic treatment plans
Correct answer: Identify weak links that can be broken to prevent disease spread
Breaking any one link in the chain of infection — such as eliminating the reservoir or blocking transmission — prevents an infection from spreading.
Question 5: A CNA is caring for a resident with an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action BEST prevents a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
- Irrigate the catheter daily with saline
- Keep the drainage bag above bladder level
- Maintain a closed drainage system and keep the bag below bladder level (Correct answer)
- Disconnect the catheter tubing to obtain a urine specimen
Correct answer: Maintain a closed drainage system and keep the bag below bladder level
Maintaining a closed drainage system and keeping the collection bag below bladder level prevents backflow and reduces CAUTI risk.
Question 6: Standard precautions apply to:
- Only patients known to have infectious diseases
- Blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes of ALL patients (Correct answer)
- Airborne diseases such as tuberculosis only
- Patients in intensive care units only
Correct answer: Blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes of ALL patients
Standard precautions treat blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes of every patient as potentially infectious.
Question 7: What does the term 'nosocomial infection' mean?
- An infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- An infection a patient acquires while receiving care in a healthcare facility (Correct answer)
- An infection transmitted through contaminated food
- An infection present before hospital admission
Correct answer: An infection a patient acquires while receiving care in a healthcare facility
A nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection develops during or after receiving care in a healthcare setting and was not present at admission.
CNA Infection Control and Safety 3
A resident with MRSA is on contact precautions.
Which statement about their room placement is CORRECT?