PCA Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long should a PCA scrub their hands with soap and water to effectively remove pathogens?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove germs.
Question 2: When is alcohol-based hand sanitizer NOT an acceptable substitute for soap and water?
- After removing gloves
- Before preparing medications
- When hands are visibly soiled (Correct answer)
- Between client care tasks
Correct answer: When hands are visibly soiled
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated; soap and water must be used instead.
Question 3: A PCA is caring for a client with MRSA. Which type of precautions must be added on top of standard precautions?
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions
- Contact precautions (Correct answer)
- Protective isolation
Correct answer: Contact precautions
MRSA spreads through direct contact, so contact precautions (gloves and gown) are required in addition to standard precautions.
Question 4: In what order should a PCA don PPE when entering an isolation room?
- Gown, gloves, mask, goggles
- Mask, gown, goggles, gloves (Correct answer)
- Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
- Goggles, mask, gloves, gown
Correct answer: Mask, gown, goggles, gloves
The correct donning order is mask first, then gown, then goggles or face shield, and gloves last.
Question 5: A PCA accidentally splashes body fluid on their face. What should they do FIRST?
- Report the incident to the supervisor
- Flush the affected area with water for 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- Apply antiseptic cream to the area
- Complete an incident report
Correct answer: Flush the affected area with water for 15 minutes
The immediate first step after any body fluid splash is to flush the affected area with copious amounts of water.
Question 6: Which action breaks the chain of infection at the 'portal of exit'?
- Wearing gloves when handling body fluids
- Teaching the client to cover their mouth when coughing (Correct answer)
- Disposing of sharps in puncture-resistant containers
- Keeping the client's environment clean
Correct answer: Teaching the client to cover their mouth when coughing
Covering the mouth during coughing or sneezing blocks the portal of exit by preventing pathogens from leaving the host.
Question 7: A PCA must remove their gloves after caring for a client. What is the correct technique?
- Pull both gloves off by the fingertips at the same time
- Grasp the outside of one glove and peel it off, then slide fingers under the remaining glove cuff (Correct answer)
- Remove gloves by pulling at the wrist and discard immediately in the trash
- Rinse gloves with water before removal to prevent contamination
Correct answer: Grasp the outside of one glove and peel it off, then slide fingers under the remaining glove cuff
The safe glove removal technique peels the first glove from the outside and removes the second by reaching inside the cuff to avoid touching contaminated surfaces.
PCA Infection Control 2
How long should a PCA scrub their hands with soap and water to effectively remove pathogens?