Infection Control Quiz

The Hepatitis B vaccination requires 2 injections, six months apart.

True - (can be two dose, three or four doses depending on the age group over a course of six months.)

When removing personal protective equipment, the outside front and sleeves of a gown are considered contaminated.

True - (remember gloves over gown, gloves are last on and first off)

Personal Protective Equipment includes gloves, masks, Face Sheild, Goggles and gown.

True - Additional items that may be required are shoe covers and hair covers, or jumpsuits.

A disease caused by pathogens that can be easily spread is a communicable disease.

True - C-Diff, MRSA, E-Coli can be spread easily from Nurse Assistant to patient and from patient to patient if proper infection control is not observed. Also, FLU, Tuberculosis, etc.

Always keep sterile gloved hands above the waist and within your vision.

True - Dropping hands below the waistline or behind your back causes them to no longer be considered sterile.

Handwashing is the most important method of preventing the spread of inspection.

True - Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection.

All body fluids, except for sweat are considered to be potentially infectious.

True - However...it might be difficult to determine if there are other fluids present. Also, if the sweat passed from an infectious part of the body.

Influenza is an example of a disease spread by droplet precautions.

True - Influenza is spread through Droplet transmission occurs when oral or nasal secretions infected with an illness enter the eyes, nose or mouth of another person. The secretions are most commonly passed through coughing or sneezing; this is the way the flu and many viruses are spread.

When an individual is asymptomatic, no signs and symptoms are present.

True - Patient can be asymptomatic but can still suffer from infection or disease. People with High Blood pressure are often leading to heart attack or stroke.

When burns destroy the skin, infections are a great concern.

True - Patient is at high risk for infection if wounds are open, bacteria and viruses have a path to enter the body.

Refrigerated lab specimens should not be stored in a refrigerator with food

True - Specimens should be kept in a dedicated refrigerator.

Disposable patient equipment should be used when caring for a patient in isolation.

True - The patient will typically have a stethoscope and other equipment that remains in the patient's room to avoid spreading infection.

Standard precautions are the infection control practices used for everyone receiving care, regardless of their diagnosis or their condition.

True - This is the minimum that is observed. They may have additional precautions in addition, i.e. Droplet, Airbourne and Contact.

An autoclave is a piece of equipment that is used to sterilize surgical instruments and surgical dressings.

True - autoclaves are used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to pressurized saturated steam at 121 °C (250 °F) for around 30-60 minutes at a pressure of 15 psi

Using an alcohol-based hand cleaner is acceptable as long as no visible soil is present

True - hand should be washed with soap and water after 3 times of using hand sanitizer, and when hands are visibly soiled or after perineal care or patients with infections.

Needles should never be recapped.

True - recapping can lead to finger stick/pokes.

A systemic infection is an infection that involves the whole body.

True - sepsis is an example of a systemic infection that affects body organs, rather than a single organ or body part. For example, systemic disorders, such as high blood pressure, or systemic diseases, such as the flu, affect the entire body. An infection that is in the bloodstream is called a systemic infection.

The term sterile field refers to an area of sterile equipment and materials

True - sterile items are placed within a sterile field.

Asepsis is the absence of all microorganisms.

True - the absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

Shoe covers are optional personal protective equipment but may be used when there is the potential for splashing and messes on the floor.

True - these are for risk of infectious materials splashing onto shoes.

Osha is a government agency whose function is to regulate and protect workers on the job.

True - to create a safe environment for workers. Ensure that standards are met and maintained.

Do not carry clean linen against your uniform

True - your uniform is considered dirty. (also, remember to not lean up against the sink during hand hygiene!)

If wearing a gown, cuffs of gloves should be tucked underneath the gown of the sleeves.

False - (remember gloves over gown, gloves are last on and first off)

It takes approximately 60 seconds for an alcohol based cleaner to dry on the hands.

False - Alcohol based cleaners take approximately 20 secs. Nurse Assistant should be rubbing hands and surface of hands for at least 20 seconds.

It is not mandatory to report and exposure incident unless the healthcare worker requires immediate medical attention.

False - An incident report should be filled out immediately and a healthcare worker should be checked out immediately.

Disinfectants are used to cleanse the skin before the surgical procedures or when scrubbing for surgery

False - Antiseptics are used for the skin. Think antibacterial - hands. Disinfectants are used for surfaces, Lysol is a disinfectant.

The biohazard label is present on containers used for disposal of contaminated items. The symbol is red with a white background.

False - Biohazards are typical red and black or orange and black.

C. difficile and norovirus are spread by spores.

False - C. Difficile is caused by spores. Norovirus is caused by a virus that can live on surfaces. Both can be spread by healthcare workers.

Escherichia Coli is extremely contagious and responsible for many respiratory infections each year.

False - Escherichia coli or E. Coli is among the most common causative agents of UTIs. It is mainly found in the intestines and is from improper hygiene/perineal care.

When washing your hands, keep your fingertips pointing upwards.

False - Fingers should be pointed down as to not have bacteria run down your hands and wrists. Wash cleanest to dirtiest.

If a package of sterile forceps becomes wet, they can be used as long as the forceps are still in the package.

False - If a package is soiled, wet or expired is no longer considered sterile and should be disposed of or placed in the items for autoclave.

The Bloodborne Pathogen Standards purpose is to protect health care Workes from exposure to influenza and AIDS.

False - Influenza is not a bloodborne pathogen. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) as amended pursuant to the 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. It has provisions for exposure control plans, engineering and work practice controls, hepatitis B vaccinations, hazard communication and training, and recordkeeping. The standard imposes requirements on employers of workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials such as certain tissues and body fluids.

For time saving purposes, it is good practice to share personal care items between patients in the same room

False - Items should never be shared or borrowed.

Bring extra linens into the patient's room to eliminate the need to have to go back and forth if you need something else.

False - Nurse Assistant should be prepared, bring the correct number of linens, not being prepared wastes time and supplies.

The patient in isolation requires no special care beyond wearing gloves during care.

False - Nurse Assistant should know the correct precaution for patient in isolation.

Long and/or artificial nails on a healthcare worker do not increase the risk of infection to the patient.

False - One studied found harmful bacteria that were traced back to a nurse that several infants died. (Fingernail Bacteria Linked to Baby Deaths in Hospital (webmd.com)

Sharps containers should be emptied when they are approximately 2/3 full.

False - Sharps containers will be removed and incinerated when they are 2/3 full. We never empty them.

Clean and soiled items should be separated in the hallways

False - Soiled linens should be bagged prior to putting them in the soiled linen area. Clean linens will be found separate from soiled.

A 3" margin around the sterile field is considered contaminated.

False - Standard is a 1" border around the field. Items should be dropped from about 6" above into the center.

It is permissible to pass an unsterile item over the sterile field as long as you hold it at least 4" above the filed.

False - You may never pass an item over a sterile field. This causes particles to land in the sterile field contaminating the field. (Also, all items should be above waste level and never drop hands below waste level)

If gloves are intact, and not visibly soiled, they may be used indefinitely.

False - You should never reuse gloves or use the same gloves on multiple patients.

When applying personal protective equipment, donning gloves is the first step

False - gloves are put on last, over the sleeves to protect from skin-to-skin contact at the wrist.

The most important aspect of handwashing is the hot water that is used on the hands

False - never use hot water. The most important aspect is friction.

After removing soiled or used linen, place it on the floor and then hand carry it to the soiled utility room.

False - soiled linens should never be placed on the floor, they should be placed in the soiled linen or placed in a bag to be removed from the room as per facility protocol.

Alcohol-based cleaners are the preferred methods of hand hygiene when a patient has an infection spread by spores.

False - the most effective and preferred is hand hygiene especially with Spores!

It is not necessary to perform hand hygiene after wearing gloves unless the glove(s) have a tear.

False -Gloves never replace hand hygiene, hand hygiene should be performed before and after changing gloves, when hands are visibly soiled or when perineal care has been performed.

When wearing goggles, it is not necessary to also wear a mask.

False! - Goggles are typically worn when protecting the eyes from splashing. A mask is part of your PPEs and would also be worn.

If you are caring for a patient who requires transmission-based precautions and need additional supplies, you may exit the room wearing your personal protective equipment, as long as it is not visibly contaminated.

False! - Once you enter an isolation room your PPE's are considered contaminated. This is an example as to why it is important to bring the proper supplies with you, so that you do not waste PPE's going back and forth to the room.

A healthcare acquired infection does not negatively affect the patient nor does it increase the cost of the hospital stay.

False! - Patients that acquire infection in the hospital Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are known to increase the length of stay, health care costs, and mortality. Each year the top 5 healthcare-associated infections result in about $9.8 billion costs. Infection Control is paramount!

The wash basin, toothbrush, toothpaste, denture cup, and a hairbrush are examples of items that should be stored in the bottom shelf or drawer of a bedside table.

False, these are examples of items that should be placed in the top drawer. Think of clean to dirty. We would not place our toothbrush closest to the floor.