IAHCSMM Infection Prevention and Microbiology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of microorganism is most resistant to standard sterilization methods and requires the highest level of killing?
- Vegetative bacteria
- Bacterial spores (Correct answer)
- Enveloped viruses
- Fungi
Correct answer: Bacterial spores
Bacterial spores are the most resistant form of microbial life and are used as the benchmark for sterilization efficacy.
Question 2: What is the Spaulding Classification for an instrument that contacts only intact skin?
- Critical
- Semi-critical
- Non-critical (Correct answer)
- Sterile
Correct answer: Non-critical
Non-critical items contact intact skin only and require low-level disinfection at minimum.
Question 3: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are BEST prevented in the CS department by:
- Using only disposable instruments
- Ensuring complete decontamination and sterilization of reusable devices (Correct answer)
- Administering prophylactic antibiotics to patients
- Isolating all surgical instruments
Correct answer: Ensuring complete decontamination and sterilization of reusable devices
Proper decontamination and sterilization of reusable devices is the CS department's primary role in HAI prevention.
Question 4: Gram-positive bacteria appear what color after Gram staining?
- Red or pink
- Blue or purple (Correct answer)
- Yellow
- Colorless
Correct answer: Blue or purple
Gram-positive bacteria retain the crystal violet dye and appear blue or purple under microscopy.
Question 5: Which bloodborne pathogen is MOST stable in the environment and can survive on surfaces for up to 7 days?
- HIV
- HCV
- HBV (Correct answer)
- MRSA
Correct answer: HBV
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is extremely stable and can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for up to 7 days.
Question 6: The chain of infection is broken MOST effectively in CS by:
- Wearing gloves at all times
- Proper hand hygiene before and after tasks (Correct answer)
- Using N95 respirators in the decontamination area
- Limiting access to the sterile storage area
Correct answer: Proper hand hygiene before and after tasks
Hand hygiene is the single most effective intervention for breaking the chain of infection transmission.
Question 7: What term describes microorganisms that can cause disease in healthy individuals?
- Opportunistic pathogens
- True (primary) pathogens (Correct answer)
- Commensals
- Saprophytes
Correct answer: True (primary) pathogens
True or primary pathogens have sufficient virulence to cause disease in otherwise healthy hosts.
IAHCSMM Infection Prevention and Microbiology 2
Which type of microorganism is most resistant to standard sterilization methods and requires the highest level of killing?