PCA Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure for cleaning a blood spill?
- Wipe with a dry paper towel and discard
- Apply bleach solution, allow contact time, then wipe and discard materials (Correct answer)
- Rinse with hot water first, then apply cleaner
- Cover with a cloth and leave for housekeeping
Correct answer: Apply bleach solution, allow contact time, then wipe and discard materials
Blood spills must be cleaned with a 1:10 bleach solution allowed to sit for full contact time before wiping, with all materials discarded as biohazard waste.
Question 2: How should a PCA safely dispose of a used needle?
- Recap it carefully and place in the trash
- Break the needle before disposal to prevent reuse
- Drop it uncapped directly into an approved sharps container (Correct answer)
- Wrap in several layers of paper towels before discarding
Correct answer: Drop it uncapped directly into an approved sharps container
Used needles must never be recapped or broken; they must be dropped directly into an approved puncture-resistant sharps container.
Question 3: Which disinfectant is most effective against Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores?
- Alcohol-based products
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution (Correct answer)
- Hydrogen peroxide spray
Correct answer: Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution
C. diff spores are resistant to most common disinfectants but are effectively killed by EPA-registered bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solutions.
Question 4: A client has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB). Which precaution type should the PCA expect?
- Contact precautions with gown and gloves only
- Droplet precautions with a surgical mask
- Airborne precautions with a fit-tested N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- Reverse isolation to protect the client
Correct answer: Airborne precautions with a fit-tested N95 respirator
Tuberculosis is spread through airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air, requiring airborne precautions and an N95 or higher respirator.
Question 5: When removing soiled linen from a client's bed, the PCA should:
- Shake the linen vigorously to remove debris before rolling
- Roll soiled surfaces inward and carry the bundle away from the body (Correct answer)
- Place linen on the floor temporarily while finishing the bed change
- Rinse linen in the client's bathroom before placing in the hamper
Correct answer: Roll soiled surfaces inward and carry the bundle away from the body
Soiled linen should be rolled with contaminated surfaces inside and held away from the body and uniform to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 6: What does 'medical asepsis' (clean technique) refer to?
- Complete elimination of all microorganisms from a surface
- Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms (Correct answer)
- Using sterile technique for all procedures
- Wearing full PPE at all times during care
Correct answer: Reducing the number and spread of microorganisms
Medical asepsis refers to practices that reduce the number and spread of microorganisms rather than achieving complete sterility.
Question 7: A PCA notices redness, warmth, and swelling around a client's wound site. This is most likely a sign of:
- Normal and expected healing progress
- An allergic reaction to the wound dressing
- A localized wound infection (Correct answer)
- Poor circulation alone
Correct answer: A localized wound infection
Redness, warmth, swelling, and pain around a wound are classic signs of localized infection that must be reported to a supervisor immediately.
PCA Infection Control 3
What is the correct procedure for cleaning a blood spill?