Infection Control & Safety Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real MACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Control & Safety Standards flashcards as text
A resident on airborne precautions for active tuberculosis requires medication. The medication aide should wear:
Answer: N95 respirator that has been fit-tested
Active TB requires an N95 respirator (not a surgical mask) that has been properly fit-tested to filter airborne particles.
Which action by a medication aide BREAKS the chain of infection at the 'portal of exit'?
Answer: Covering a resident's mouth when they cough
The portal of exit is where pathogens leave the host; covering a cough limits respiratory droplets exiting the infected person.
A medication aide finds an unlabeled liquid medication on the medication cart. The CORRECT action is to:
Answer: Do not administer it and report to the nurse immediately
Unlabeled medications must never be administered; they should be reported to the supervising nurse and handled per facility protocol.
What is the minimum recommended contact time for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to be effective?
Answer: Until hands feel dry (approximately 15–20 seconds)
Hand sanitizer must be rubbed over all hand surfaces until the hands are completely dry, which takes approximately 15–20 seconds.
During a medication pass, a resident refuses to wear a mask despite being on droplet precautions. The aide should:
Answer: Wear their own mask and eye protection, then report the refusal to the nurse
The aide should protect themselves with appropriate PPE and report the situation to the nurse, as residents have the right to refuse but staff must still protect themselves.
Which action correctly breaks the chain of infection at the 'susceptible host' link?
Answer: Administering prescribed vaccines to residents
Vaccination increases a host's resistance to infection, directly targeting the susceptible host link in the chain of infection.
A medication aide develops a rash after using latex gloves. This is most likely:
Answer: Contact dermatitis or latex allergy requiring non-latex gloves
Rash from latex gloves indicates contact dermatitis or latex allergy, and the aide should switch to non-latex gloves and report to occupational health.