PCT OSHA and Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Contact precautions require the PCT to wear which PPE upon entering the patient's room?
- N95 respirator and face shield
- Gown and gloves (Correct answer)
- Surgical mask only
- Sterile gown and double gloves
Correct answer: Gown and gloves
Contact precautions require a gown and gloves to prevent transmission of organisms spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment.
Contact precautions are used for MRSA, VRE, C. difficile, scabies, and other contact-transmitted organisms. The PCT dons a gown and gloves before entering the room. Dedicated equipment (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff) should remain in the room. Remove PPE before leaving and perform hand hygiene. For C. difficile, soap and water handwashing is required (alcohol does not kill spores).
Question 2: Which waste container is used for blood-soaked bandages and dressings?
- Regular trash can
- Recycling bin
- Biohazard (red) waste container (Correct answer)
- Sharps container
Correct answer: Biohazard (red) waste container
Blood-soaked materials are regulated medical waste that must be placed in designated biohazard containers marked with the red color and biohazard symbol.
Regulated medical waste includes items saturated or dripping with blood, pathological waste, and microbiological waste. These must be placed in leak-proof, labeled biohazard bags or containers (typically red). Items with small amounts of blood (Band-Aids, gauze with minor spotting) may go in regular trash per facility policy. Sharps containers are specifically for needles and blades.
Question 3: How long should the PCT perform hand hygiene with soap and water?
- 5 seconds
- At least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- Exactly 60 seconds
- 2 minutes
Correct answer: At least 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove transient microorganisms.
Effective handwashing requires: wetting hands, applying soap, lathering and scrubbing all surfaces (palms, backs, between fingers, under nails, wrists) for at least 20 seconds, rinsing under running water, and drying with a clean paper towel. Use the towel to turn off the faucet. Alcohol-based hand rub (60-95% alcohol) requires 15-20 seconds of rubbing until dry.
Question 4: A PCT sustains a needlestick injury. What is the FIRST action?
- File an incident report immediately
- Wash the site with soap and water immediately (Correct answer)
- Go to the emergency department
- Notify the supervisor before doing anything
Correct answer: Wash the site with soap and water immediately
Immediate washing of the puncture site with soap and water is the first step to reduce the risk of infection from the exposure.
After a needlestick: (1) Immediately wash the site with soap and water (do not squeeze to bleed). For mucous membrane exposure, flush with water. (2) Report to the supervisor. (3) Seek immediate medical evaluation for possible post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). (4) Complete an incident report. (5) Identify the source patient for testing. Time is critical—PEP for HIV is most effective within 1-2 hours.
Question 5: Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) differs from medical asepsis in that it:
- Only requires hand hygiene
- Eliminates all microorganisms from an area or object (Correct answer)
- Reduces but does not eliminate microorganisms
- Is only used in operating rooms
Correct answer: Eliminates all microorganisms from an area or object
Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) aims to create and maintain a completely microorganism-free environment, unlike medical asepsis which only reduces microbial numbers.
Medical asepsis (clean technique) reduces the number and transfer of pathogens—examples include hand hygiene and clean gloves. Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates all microorganisms and is used for invasive procedures, wound care, and catheter insertion. Principles include sterile to sterile only, sterile fields above waist level, and any item touching a non-sterile surface is contaminated.
Question 6: Which cleaning process destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores?
- Sanitization
- Disinfection
- Sterilization (Correct answer)
- Decontamination
Correct answer: Sterilization
Sterilization is the only process that destroys all microorganisms including resistant bacterial spores, typically achieved through autoclaving or chemical sterilants.
The hierarchy of microbial destruction: cleaning (removes visible soil), sanitization (reduces to safe levels), disinfection (kills most pathogens but not all spores), and sterilization (destroys all microbial life including spores). Sterilization methods include steam autoclave (121°C for 15-30 minutes), ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide plasma, and chemical sterilants. Used for critical items that enter sterile body tissues.
PCT OSHA and Infection Control 3
Contact precautions require the PCT to wear which PPE upon entering the patient's room?