PTSD Infection Control & Prevention 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which pathogen is most commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infections in psychiatric inpatient settings?
- Clostridioides difficile (Correct answer)
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B virus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
Correct answer: Clostridioides difficile
C. difficile is among the most common healthcare-associated pathogens and spreads readily through contaminated surfaces and hands in inpatient settings.
Question 2: A therapist has a needlestick injury from a patient of unknown HIV status. What is the FIRST action to take?
- Immediately start post-exposure prophylaxis
- Report the incident to the supervisor
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Test the patient for HIV
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
The first step after a needlestick is to immediately wash the wound with soap and water to reduce pathogen load before any other actions.
Question 3: What level of disinfection is required for semi-critical medical items such as laryngoscope blades?
- Low-level disinfection
- Intermediate-level disinfection
- High-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Sterilization
Correct answer: High-level disinfection
Semi-critical items that contact mucous membranes require high-level disinfection, which eliminates all microorganisms except bacterial spores.
Question 4: Which of the following is considered a critical item requiring sterilization according to the Spaulding classification?
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Bedpans
- Surgical instruments (Correct answer)
- Stethoscopes
Correct answer: Surgical instruments
Critical items such as surgical instruments enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and must be sterilized to eliminate all microbial life including spores.
Question 5: Standard precautions apply to which patients in a healthcare setting?
- Only patients with confirmed infections
- Only patients on isolation orders
- All patients regardless of diagnosis or infection status (Correct answer)
- Only immunocompromised patients
Correct answer: All patients regardless of diagnosis or infection status
Standard precautions apply to all patients at all times because any patient may harbor infectious agents, even without symptoms or a known diagnosis.
Question 6: An infection control nurse notes a cluster of gastrointestinal illness on a psychiatric unit. What is the most appropriate initial action?
- Immediately discharge all symptomatic patients
- Conduct a line listing of cases and implement contact precautions (Correct answer)
- Administer prophylactic antibiotics to all unit staff
- Temporarily close the unit to new admissions only
Correct answer: Conduct a line listing of cases and implement contact precautions
Outbreak investigation begins with creating a line listing of cases (demographics, onset, symptoms) and implementing appropriate precautions to prevent further spread.
Question 7: Which cleaning product is effective against Clostridioides difficile spores on environmental surfaces?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Alcohol-based products
- Hydrogen peroxide wipes
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution
C. difficile spores are resistant to most disinfectants; EPA-registered sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solutions are required for effective sporicidal decontamination.
PTSD Infection Control & Prevention 3
Which pathogen is most commonly associated with healthcare-acquired infections in psychiatric inpatient settings?