MNT Infection Control & Sanitation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of infection control process eliminates ALL microbial life, including bacterial spores?
- Disinfection
- Sanitization
- Sterilization (Correct answer)
- Decontamination
Correct answer: Sterilization
Sterilization is the only process that destroys all forms of microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
Question 2: Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) used as disinfectants are effective against which of the following?
- Bacterial spores only
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Most bacteria, fungi, and some viruses (Correct answer)
- All pathogens including prions
Correct answer: Most bacteria, fungi, and some viruses
Quats are intermediate-level disinfectants effective against many bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses, but not spores or all viruses.
Question 3: After a blood exposure incident during a nail service, the technician should first:
- Apply a tourniquet
- Immediately discard all implements
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply undiluted bleach to the wound
Correct answer: Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water
The first response to any blood exposure is thorough washing with soap and water to reduce the pathogen load at the exposure site.
Question 4: Which of the following correctly describes a 'one-time use' or 'single-use' item?
- An item used once per client per visit, then cleaned and stored
- An item that must be discarded after use on one client (Correct answer)
- An item disinfected between each client
- An item sterilized in an autoclave after each use
Correct answer: An item that must be discarded after use on one client
Single-use or disposable items such as nail files and buffers must be discarded after use on one client and cannot be decontaminated for reuse.
Question 5: To prevent cross-contamination when removing product from a container, a nail technician should:
- Use fingers to scoop product directly
- Pour product into the client's hands
- Use a clean spatula or decant into a separate dish (Correct answer)
- Dip the brush directly into the container
Correct answer: Use a clean spatula or decant into a separate dish
Using a clean spatula or decanting into a single-use dish prevents introducing contaminants back into the product container.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of wearing gloves during a nail service?
- To improve grip on tools
- To protect the technician from chemical sensitization and pathogen exposure (Correct answer)
- To comply with cosmetic appearance standards
- To prevent the client from seeing the technician's hands
Correct answer: To protect the technician from chemical sensitization and pathogen exposure
Gloves create a barrier that protects the technician from both chemical exposure (sensitization) and potential bloodborne pathogens.
Question 7: Contaminated implements that have been used on a client should first undergo which step before disinfection?
- Sterilization
- Thorough cleaning to remove debris and bioburden (Correct answer)
- Soaking in bleach
- UV light exposure
Correct answer: Thorough cleaning to remove debris and bioburden
Organic matter (skin, blood, product residue) must be physically removed first because it can shield microorganisms from the disinfectant.
MNT Infection Control & Sanitation 3
Which type of infection control process eliminates ALL microbial life, including bacterial spores?