1. Which one of the following is a goal of infection control training?

• a. Ensure that health professionals understand the chain of command.
• b. Be certain there is no discrimination by ethnicity or race.
• c. Eradicate communicable disease in all healthcare settings.
• d. Apply current scientifically accepted principles appropriately to the work environment.

2. Which one of the following statements about healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is false?

• a. Approximately 1.7 million hospital patients per year get an infection while being treated for another illness or injury.
• b. Patients in home care or nursing homes are at risk for developing HAIs.
• c. Infection control programs have been shown to reduce HAIs.
• d. HAIs are generally mild and, fortunately, present low risk.

3. Which one of the following contains elements of the chain of infection?

• a. Pathogen and contact with the infected person
• b. Virus, bacterium, and parasite
• c. Agent, mode of transmission, and susceptible host
• d. Poor infection control practices and a poor immune system

4. Which one of the following is not a causative agent for infection?

• a. Protozoa
• b. Spores
• c. Parasites
• d. Viruses

5. A condition commonly found in reservoirs is:

• a. Moisture.
• b. Light.
• c. Density.
• d. Air.

6. An example of a human reservoir for infectious agents is:

• a. Drainage from a wound.
• b. The respiratory tract.
• c. Urine and feces.
• d. Saliva and vomitus.

7. Portals of exit from the human reservoir include:

• a. Gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
• b. Intact skin.
• c. Dirty hands.
• d. Nose, mouth, and anus.

8. Which of the following is a mode of transmission?

• a. Radioactivity
• b. Body fluids
• c. Fomites
• d. Canned food

9. Portals of entry include all but which one of the following?

• a. Anatomical openings
• b. Intact skin
• c. Open wounds
• d. Needle sticks

10. Immunocompetence can protect a susceptible host.

• a. True
• b. False

11. The host can be protected in which one of the following ways?

• a. Protecting the immune systems of both patients and healthcare workers
• b. Isolating healthcare workers from all infected patients
• c. Using PPE with all infected patients
• d. Rotating shifts of healthcare workers to minimize exposure to infectious disease

12. What is the single most important procedure to prevent the spread of infection?

• a. Hand hygiene
• b. Prompt and thorough reporting
• c. Use of gloves
• d. Isolation of infected patients

13. Breaking the chain of infection requires:

• a. Documenting the vital signs.
• b. Talking with the patient's family and friends.
• c. Contact Precautions for anyone with any type of infection.
• d. Educating healthcare workers in appropriate preventive procedures.

14. Preventing the spread of bloodborne pathogens requires which of the following?

• a. Standard Precautions
• b. Airborne Precautions
• c. Contact Precautions
• d. Droplet Precautions

15. In certain situations, isolation may be achieved by:

• a. Moving the patient to the far side of a double room.
• b. Cohorting with another patient infected by the same microorganism.
• c. Eliminating hand washing and toileting facilities, which only serve to spread infection.
• d. Installing a separate room air conditioner.

16. Which one of the following is an engineering control designed to reduce the spread of infection?

• a. Vaccination of healthcare workers
• b. Educational programs about infectious disease
• c. Puncture-resistant containers for the disposal of sharps
• d. Use of gloves to prevent contact with body fluids

17. Which one of the following is true about percutaneous exposures?

• a. Percutaneous injuries are rare in U.S. hospitals.
• b. Poorly visualized suturing poses a hazard to both patient and healthcare worker.
• c. A healthcare worker cannot become infected as the result of a single exposure.
• d. Sharps are less hazardous if you wear double gloves.

18. The federal government requires all healthcare employers to provide safe sharps and needles, with some limited exceptions.

• a. True
• b. False

19. Controlling the transmission of airborne pathogens includes:

• a. Use of forceps, suture holders, or other instruments for suturing.
• b. Early identification of suspect cases.
• c. Isolation rooms with only family admitted.
• d. Wiping down telephones and door knobs daily.

20. Environmental precautions include which one of the following practices?

• a. Wearing personal protective gear
• b. Red-bagging waste
• c. Daily bathing of patients
• d. Teaching techniques for sneezing and coughing

21. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing or equipment that:

• a. Protects the personal clothing of a healthcare worker.
• b. Is used to restrain a patient.
• c. Protects a healthcare worker against a hazard.
• d. Reduces the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

22. The 2007 CDC Guidelines recommend glove use:

• a. For all patient contact.
• b. For patients with known infectious diseases.
• c. In any environment where bacteria may be present.
• d. When contact with body fluids, mucous membranes or non-intact skin is anticipated.

23. Which of the following statements about gowns is true?

• a. All gowns are equally protective.
• b. Color coding identifies gowns as sterile or nonsterile.
• c. All gowns should be hazmat-approved.
• d. Gowns should be selected based on the anticipated exposure.

24. Treating preventable infections may cost less overall than an investment in barriers and PPE.

• a. True
• b. False

25. Decontamination is:

• a. Removal of disease-producing microorganisms to render an object safe for handling.
• b. Removal of all foreign matter from objects.
• c. Wiping down objects with a good detergent.
• d. The absence of germs and bacterial spores.

26. Sterilization is:

• a. Chemically eliminating all pathogens but not necessarily all microbial forms.
• b. Physically or chemically destroying all microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
• c. Removal of all soil and organic debris.
• d. Removal of viruses and bacteria with a chemical germicide registered as a hospital disinfectant by the EPA.

27. Crutches, bed boards, blood pressure cuffs, and other medical accessories should be sterilized on a regular basis.

• a. True
• b. False

28. Spills of blood or other body fluids should be decontaminated using:

• a. Hospital disinfectants and that are labeled as tuberculocidal.
• b. Soap and water with chemical germicides added.
• c. Strong detergents used with protective gloves.
• d. A chemical germicide registered as a hospital disinfectant by the EPA.

29. Individuals who are responsible for equipment or device reprocessing should:

• a. Attend weekly refresher courses in cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
• b. Understand the considerations for selecting appropriate cleaning products.
• c. Be certain to stay within the facility's budget for such items.
• d. Use the products themselves before making choices.

30. Bloodborne pathogens training should include:

• a. Thorough study of the physiology of pathogens.
• b. Protective measures to minimize risk of occupational exposure.
• c. A focus on the gastrointestinal tract with its resident organisms.
• d. Vaccination for all identified vaccine-preventable diseases.

31. According to the CDC, postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for bloodborne pathogens should begin within:

• a. 5 minutes.
• b. 15 minutes.
• c. 2 hours.
• d. 3 days.

32. A healthcare worker who receives a needle stick or other significant exposure to HIV, HSV, HBV, or HCV should:

• a. Report the incident to a supervisor within 48 hours.
• b. Closely monitor any signs or symptoms of illness before seeking treatment.
• c. Have follow-up testing if there are signs of infection.
• d. Wash, flush, or irrigate the wound, depending on the location of the exposure.