IAHCSMM Infection Prevention and Microbiology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of an endogenous source of infection?
- Contaminated surgical instruments
- Patient's own normal flora (Correct answer)
- Airborne droplet nuclei from a visitor
- Contaminated irrigation solution
Correct answer: Patient's own normal flora
Endogenous infections arise from the patient's own microorganisms, such as normal flora that enter a sterile body site.
Question 2: Prions are associated with which characteristic that makes them uniquely difficult to eliminate?
- They produce endospores
- They are resistant to standard sterilization including steam and radiation (Correct answer)
- They can survive only in anaerobic conditions
- They form biofilms on stainless steel
Correct answer: They are resistant to standard sterilization including steam and radiation
Prions are misfolded proteins that resist conventional sterilization methods, including standard steam and chemical treatments.
Question 3: Which route of transmission is primarily prevented by the use of proper packaging and sterile barrier maintenance?
- Droplet transmission
- Contact transmission via contaminated instruments (Correct answer)
- Airborne transmission
- Vector-borne transmission
Correct answer: Contact transmission via contaminated instruments
Sterile packaging maintains the sterile barrier and prevents contact transmission of pathogens via contaminated instruments.
Question 4: Biofilm formation on surgical instruments is a concern because biofilms:
- Only form on plastic devices
- Protect microorganisms from disinfection and sterilization (Correct answer)
- Are easily removed with water rinsing
- Only occur on implantable devices
Correct answer: Protect microorganisms from disinfection and sterilization
Biofilms are structured communities of bacteria encased in a matrix that provides significant protection against antimicrobial agents and sterilization.
Question 5: Standard Precautions require that CS technicians treat blood and body fluids from ALL patients as if they are:
- Non-infectious until proven otherwise
- Potentially infectious regardless of diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Infectious only if the patient has a known bloodborne disease
- Safe after disinfection with alcohol
Correct answer: Potentially infectious regardless of diagnosis
Standard Precautions assume all blood and body fluids from every patient are potentially infectious to eliminate risk of exposure.
Question 6: What type of immunity is achieved when a CS worker receives the hepatitis B vaccine?
- Natural active immunity
- Artificial active immunity (Correct answer)
- Natural passive immunity
- Artificial passive immunity
Correct answer: Artificial active immunity
Vaccination introduces an antigen artificially, stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies, creating artificial active immunity.
Question 7: Which of the following organisms is classified as an obligate anaerobe and is of particular concern in wound infections?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Clostridium perfringens (Correct answer)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Candida albicans
Correct answer: Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens is an obligate anaerobe that can cause gas gangrene and other serious wound infections.
IAHCSMM Infection Prevention and Microbiology 3
Which of the following is an example of an endogenous source of infection?