NCNZ Infection Control and Prevention 2 β Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with confirmed active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the ward. Which transmission-based precaution is required?
- Contact precautions with a standard single room
- Droplet precautions with a surgical mask
- Airborne precautions with a negative pressure room and N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only as TB is not spread person-to-person
Correct answer: Airborne precautions with a negative pressure room and N95 respirator
Pulmonary TB is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air over long distances, requiring airborne precautions including a negative pressure room and N95 respirator.
Question 2: When removing (doffing) PPE, what is the correct removal sequence to minimise self-contamination?
- Gloves first, then eye protection, then gown, then mask last (Correct answer)
- Mask first, then gown, then gloves, then eye protection last
- Gown first, then gloves, then eye protection, then mask last
- Eye protection first, then gown, then mask, then gloves last
Correct answer: Gloves first, then eye protection, then gown, then mask last
Gloves are removed first as they are the most contaminated item, followed by eye protection, then gown, with the mask removed last and hand hygiene performed throughout the sequence.
Question 3: According to WHO guidelines, how long should effective hand washing with soap and water take?
- 10 to 15 seconds
- 20 to 30 seconds
- 40 to 60 seconds (Correct answer)
- 2 to 3 minutes
Correct answer: 40 to 60 seconds
WHO guidelines recommend that hand washing with soap and water should take 40 to 60 seconds to allow the six-step technique to effectively remove dirt, organic matter, and microorganisms from all hand surfaces.
Question 4: In which clinical situation is an N95 respirator specifically required rather than a standard surgical mask?
- Caring for a patient with seasonal influenza in a single room
- Performing a bedside wound dressing change
- Performing an aerosol-generating procedure on a patient with COVID-19 (Correct answer)
- Entering the room of a patient with MRSA wound infection
Correct answer: Performing an aerosol-generating procedure on a patient with COVID-19
N95 respirators are required for aerosol-generating procedures as they filter at least 95% of airborne particles, providing protection against fine aerosolised infectious particles that a surgical mask cannot filter.
Question 5: A nurse sustains a needlestick injury after administering an injection to a patient. What is the FIRST immediate action?
- Report the incident to the nurse manager and fill in an incident form
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply an antiseptic or iodine solution directly to the puncture site
- Arrange blood tests for baseline serology testing
Correct answer: Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water immediately
The immediate first action following a needlestick injury is to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water to reduce the microbial load before formal incident reporting and post-exposure management are initiated.
Question 6: What does Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) aim to achieve in clinical nursing practice?
- Performing procedures without wearing any gloves to improve dexterity
- Preventing contamination of key parts and key sites during clinical procedures (Correct answer)
- Cleaning all equipment with antiseptic solution before every use
- Using sterile gloves for all patient interactions
Correct answer: Preventing contamination of key parts and key sites during clinical procedures
ANTT is a clinical practice framework that standardises aseptic technique by identifying and protecting key parts (vulnerable components) and key sites (vulnerable patient access points) to prevent infection during procedures.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'source isolation' in infection control practice?
- Nursing all patients in individual single rooms as a routine measure
- Placing an infectious patient in a single room to prevent spread of infection to others (Correct answer)
- Grouping immunocompromised patients together in a dedicated ward
- Wearing gloves and a gown when entering every patient room
Correct answer: Placing an infectious patient in a single room to prevent spread of infection to others
Source isolation involves placing a patient who is the source of infection into a single room to prevent transmission from that individual to other patients or staff in the healthcare environment.
NCNZ Infection Control and Prevention 2
A patient with confirmed active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is admitted to the ward.
Which transmission-based precaution is required?