HCA Infection Prevention and Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident in a long-term care facility has MRSA in a wound. Which type of precautions should the HCA implement?
- Airborne precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Contact precautions (Correct answer)
- Protective isolation
Correct answer: Contact precautions
MRSA is spread primarily through direct or indirect contact, so contact precautions — including gloves and gown — are required to prevent transmission.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the 'chain of infection'?
- A list of all known pathogens in a facility
- The series of elements that must be present for an infection to spread (Correct answer)
- The process of sterilizing equipment after use
- The hierarchy of infection control officers
Correct answer: The series of elements that must be present for an infection to spread
The chain of infection is a model with six links — infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host — all of which must be present for infection to occur.
Question 3: How long should proper handwashing with soap and water take according to CDC guidelines?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- At least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: At least 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove most germs and contaminants.
Question 4: A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) requires which type of isolation room?
- Positive-pressure room
- Negative-pressure (airborne infection isolation) room (Correct answer)
- Standard private room
- Droplet isolation suite
Correct answer: Negative-pressure (airborne infection isolation) room
TB requires a negative-pressure airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), which pulls air inward and prevents infectious particles from escaping into hallways.
Question 5: When removing (doffing) contaminated PPE, what should be removed FIRST?
- Mask
- Gown
- Gloves (Correct answer)
- Eye protection
Correct answer: Gloves
Gloves are removed first during doffing because they are the most contaminated item and removing them first prevents contamination of other PPE and skin during the removal process.
Question 6: Which of the following actions by a health care assistant BREAKS the chain of infection at the 'mode of transmission' link?
- Administering antibiotics to the patient
- Wearing gloves and a gown when providing care (Correct answer)
- Keeping the patient's wound covered
- Encouraging the patient to eat a healthy diet
Correct answer: Wearing gloves and a gown when providing care
Wearing gloves and a gown acts as a barrier that interrupts the mode of transmission, preventing pathogens from passing between the reservoir and a new host.
Question 7: An HCA notices a sharps container is three-quarters full. What is the appropriate action?
- Continue using it until completely full to avoid waste
- Compress the contents to make more room
- Request a replacement container before it reaches the fill line (Correct answer)
- Transfer sharps to a regular trash container
Correct answer: Request a replacement container before it reaches the fill line
Sharps containers should be replaced when they reach the manufacturer's fill line (typically ¾ full) to prevent needlestick injuries from overflowing or difficult placement.
HCA Infection Prevention and Control 3
A resident in a long-term care facility has MRSA in a wound.
Which type of precautions should the HCA implement?