PCT Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has been placed on contact precautions. Which PPE must the PCT don before entering the room?
- Gown and gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask and gloves
- Gown and mask
- Gloves only
Correct answer: Gown and gloves
Contact precautions require a gown and gloves to prevent transmission via direct or indirect contact with the patient or environment.
Question 2: Which type of isolation is required for a patient diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB)?
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne particles (droplet nuclei <5 microns), requiring airborne precautions in a negative-pressure room.
Question 3: When removing contaminated gloves, which technique prevents self-contamination?
- Peel the first glove inside-out and use the bare hand to slide fingers under the second glove cuff (Correct answer)
- Pull both gloves off at the same time by the fingertips
- Use scissors to cut the gloves off
- Rinse gloves with water before removing them
Correct answer: Peel the first glove inside-out and use the bare hand to slide fingers under the second glove cuff
The standard gloving removal technique peels the first glove inside-out, then uses the gloved fingers of the opposite hand to slide under the cuff of the second glove.
Question 4: Which pathogen is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States?
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) (Correct answer)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Correct answer: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
C. difficile is currently the most common cause of HAIs in U.S. healthcare facilities, often associated with antibiotic use.
Question 5: A PCT notices a coworker skip hand hygiene after removing gloves. The best response is to:
- Politely remind the coworker that hand hygiene is required after glove removal (Correct answer)
- Report the coworker to administration immediately
- Say nothing to avoid conflict
- Document the incident without speaking to the coworker
Correct answer: Politely remind the coworker that hand hygiene is required after glove removal
A peer-to-peer reminder is the recommended first step and supports a culture of safety without unnecessary escalation.
Question 6: Which cleaning agent is recommended for disinfecting surfaces in a room occupied by a patient with C. difficile?
- Hypochlorite (bleach) solution (Correct answer)
- Alcohol-based wipes
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Hydrogen peroxide spray
Correct answer: Hypochlorite (bleach) solution
C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds; only sporicidal agents such as bleach are effective.
Question 7: Which of the following actions breaks the chain of infection at the 'portal of entry' link?
- Inserting a urinary catheter using sterile technique (Correct answer)
- Wearing a mask when the patient coughs
- Disposing of contaminated needles in a sharps container
- Placing an infected patient in a private room
Correct answer: Inserting a urinary catheter using sterile technique
Sterile technique during catheter insertion prevents microorganisms from entering the body through the urinary portal of entry.
PCT Infection Control 2
A patient has been placed on contact precautions.
Which PPE must the PCT don before entering the room?