PC Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which disinfectant class is considered the gold standard for high-level disinfection of semi-critical podiatric instruments?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- 2% glutaraldehyde solution (Correct answer)
- Isopropyl alcohol 70%
- Chlorhexidine gluconate
Correct answer: 2% glutaraldehyde solution
2% glutaraldehyde is an FDA-approved high-level disinfectant effective against all microorganisms including bacterial spores on semi-critical items.
Question 2: A podiatrist sustains a needlestick injury from a patient with unknown HIV status. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Report to the infection control officer
- Begin post-exposure prophylaxis immediately
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Draw blood for baseline HIV testing
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Immediate thorough washing of the wound with soap and water is the first step to reduce transmission risk after a needlestick injury.
Question 3: What is the minimum exposure time required when using a steam autoclave at 121°C (250°F) for wrapped instrument packs?
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 45 minutes
Correct answer: 30 minutes
Wrapped packs require 30 minutes at 121°C in a gravity displacement steam autoclave to achieve sterilization.
Question 4: Which type of isolation precaution is required when treating a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Airborne precautions, including an N95 respirator and negative-pressure room, are required for patients with active pulmonary TB.
Question 5: Biological indicators used to verify autoclave efficacy contain spores of which organism?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Clostridium difficile
- Geobacillus stearothermophilus (Correct answer)
- Bacillus anthracis
Correct answer: Geobacillus stearothermophilus
Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are the standard biological indicator for steam sterilization validation.
Question 6: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, employers must offer hepatitis B vaccination to at-risk employees:
- Within 30 days of initial assignment
- Within 10 working days of initial assignment (Correct answer)
- Only upon employee request
- Within 6 months of hire
Correct answer: Within 10 working days of initial assignment
OSHA mandates that hepatitis B vaccination be offered within 10 working days of initial assignment to positions with occupational exposure risk.
Question 7: When reprocessing a podiatric nail drill used on a patient with onychomycosis, what level of reprocessing is minimally required?
- Low-level disinfection
- Intermediate-level disinfection
- High-level disinfection
- Full sterilization (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Full sterilization
Rotary instruments that contact tissue and blood require full sterilization between patients to eliminate all microbial life.
PC Safety & Infection Control 2
Which disinfectant class is considered the gold standard for high-level disinfection of semi-critical podiatric instruments?