PC Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with MRSA on the skin of the lower extremity presents for wound care. Which PPE combination is MOST appropriate?
- Gloves only
- Gloves and gown (Correct answer)
- Gloves, gown, and surgical mask
- Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Correct answer: Gloves and gown
Contact precautions for MRSA require gloves and gown at minimum to prevent contact transmission to the clinician's clothing and hands.
Question 2: What does the term 'flash sterilization' refer to in a podiatric office setting?
- UV light decontamination of instrument surfaces
- Steam sterilization of unwrapped instruments for immediate use (Correct answer)
- Chemical immersion for 10 minutes
- Dry heat sterilization at 190°C
Correct answer: Steam sterilization of unwrapped instruments for immediate use
Flash sterilization is a rapid steam sterilization cycle for unwrapped instruments needed immediately, not intended for routine sterilization.
Question 3: Which hepatitis virus is most commonly transmitted via percutaneous exposure (needlestick) in healthcare settings?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis E
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus has the highest transmission risk from a single needlestick exposure, with up to 30% risk from HBeAg-positive source.
Question 4: In Spaulding's classification system, podiatric scalpels and bone instruments are categorized as:
- Non-critical items
- Semi-critical items
- Critical items (Correct answer)
- Intermediate items
Correct answer: Critical items
Critical items penetrate sterile tissue or the vascular system and require sterilization before use.
Question 5: What is the purpose of using an enzymatic cleaner as the first step in instrument reprocessing?
- To sterilize instruments before autoclaving
- To break down organic material such as blood and tissue (Correct answer)
- To remove chemical residue from disinfectants
- To test the integrity of instrument packaging
Correct answer: To break down organic material such as blood and tissue
Enzymatic cleaners break down proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in organic debris, which must be removed before effective disinfection or sterilization.
Question 6: Which hand hygiene product is MOST effective for eliminating Clostridioides difficile spores?
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60%)
- Chlorhexidine hand wash
- Povidone-iodine scrub
- Plain soap and water with friction (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Plain soap and water with friction
Alcohol-based sanitizers do not kill C. difficile spores; soap and water with mechanical friction physically removes spores from the hands.
Question 7: A podiatry clinic uses chemical indicator strips inside autoclave pouches. These strips confirm:
- That sterilization has been achieved
- That the package was exposed to the sterilization process parameters (Correct answer)
- That all microorganisms including spores are destroyed
- That the instrument passed a biological indicator test
Correct answer: That the package was exposed to the sterilization process parameters
Chemical indicators confirm exposure to sterilization parameters (heat, steam, time) but do NOT verify sterility — only biological indicators verify sterility.
PC Safety & Infection Control 3
A patient with MRSA on the skin of the lower extremity presents for wound care.
Which PPE combination is MOST appropriate?