Infection Control & Safety Procedures Flashcards
6 cards from real HCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infection Control & Safety Procedures flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes the difference between 'cleaning', 'disinfection', and 'sterilization'?
Answer: Cleaning removes visible soil; disinfection kills most pathogens but not all spores; sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores
These three processes represent increasing levels of microbial elimination and are applied according to the item's risk level and intended use.
What is the significance of 'contact time' when using disinfectant wipes on surfaces?
Answer: The surface must remain visibly wet for the full contact time specified on the label for the product to achieve its antimicrobial claim
Disinfectant products must maintain surface wetness for the full label-specified contact time to achieve their stated kill rate.
A resident with scabies has been identified in the care home. What type of precautions are required?
Answer: Contact precautions: gown and gloves for all direct contact, dedicated equipment, and treat clothing and bedding per provincial IPAC guidance
Scabies is transmitted via direct skin contact and contaminated fomites; contact precautions protect staff and prevent facility-wide outbreaks.
Which of the following is the correct procedure for disposing of used isolation PPE?
Answer: Remove and dispose of PPE inside the isolation room or in the anteroom before leaving, then perform hand hygiene
Removing PPE at the point of use (inside or anteroom) prevents carrying contamination into the corridor and general facility environment.
An HCA is assigned to care for a resident on Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) precautions. What does this mean for care planning?
Answer: Contact precautions with gown and gloves for all direct care, dedicated equipment, enhanced environmental cleaning, and hand hygiene with soap and water preferred
VRE is an antibiotic-resistant bacterium transmitted via direct contact; contact precautions and environmental cleaning are the cornerstones of prevention.
When is it appropriate for an HCA to re-enter a resident's isolation room without changing their PPE?
Answer: It is never appropriate to re-enter without fresh PPE; all PPE must be replaced between each room entry after an exit
Once PPE is removed after exiting the room, it must be fully replaced before re-entering; there is no time-based exception.