SGNA Infection Control and Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Standard precautions in the GI endoscopy unit apply to which patients?
- All patients regardless of known infection status (Correct answer)
- Only patients with known infections
- Only immunocompromised patients
- Only patients with bloodborne diseases
Correct answer: All patients regardless of known infection status
Standard precautions treat all blood, body fluids, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious, protecting both patients and healthcare workers universally.
Question 2: What is the proper technique for removing contaminated gloves to prevent self-contamination?
- Peel off inside-out using clean technique (Correct answer)
- Pull from the fingertips outward
- Remove simultaneously with both hands
- Rinse with water first then remove
Correct answer: Peel off inside-out using clean technique
Gloves should be removed by peeling inside-out, keeping contaminated surfaces turned inward so clean hands never contact the soiled exterior.
Question 3: According to the Spaulding Classification, flexible GI endoscopes are categorized as which level?
- Semi-critical (Correct answer)
- Critical
- Non-critical
- Uncritical
Correct answer: Semi-critical
Semi-critical items contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate sterile tissue; they require high-level disinfection at minimum (sterilization preferred when possible).
Question 4: What action should be taken immediately after an endoscope is used at the point of care (bedside)?
- Wipe external surfaces and flush channels with enzymatic detergent (Correct answer)
- Transport to reprocessing without any cleaning
- Cap the channels and store until reprocessing
- Spray with alcohol and allow to dry
Correct answer: Wipe external surfaces and flush channels with enzymatic detergent
Immediate post-procedure bedside cleaning prevents biofilm formation by wiping outer surfaces and flushing channels with enzymatic detergent before transport.
Question 5: Which disinfectant concentration test should be performed before each use of high-level disinfectant (HLD) solution?
- Minimum effective concentration (MEC) test strips (Correct answer)
- pH testing
- Turbidity testing
- Protein residue test
Correct answer: Minimum effective concentration (MEC) test strips
MEC test strips verify that the disinfectant remains above the minimum effective concentration; diluted or expired solution will not achieve high-level disinfection.
Question 6: Hand hygiene with soap and water (rather than alcohol-based hand rub) is specifically required when caring for patients with which infection?
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) (Correct answer)
- MRSA
- Influenza
- COVID-19
Correct answer: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
C. difficile produces spores resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers; soap and water mechanically removes spores from hands.
SGNA Infection Control and Safety 2
Standard precautions in the GI endoscopy unit apply to which patients?