ABCN Safety and Infection Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the single most effective method for preventing the spread of infection?
- Proper hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Wearing a face shield at all times
- Using antibiotics prophylactically
- Isolating all patients
Correct answer: Proper hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is consistently identified as the most effective measure for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
Question 2: Which type of precaution is used for ALL patient encounters regardless of diagnosis?
- Standard precautions (Correct answer)
- Airborne precautions
- Droplet precautions only
- Contact precautions only
Correct answer: Standard precautions
Standard precautions are applied to all patient care situations as the minimum level of infection prevention.
Question 3: What is the correct order for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
- Gown, mask, goggles, gloves (Correct answer)
- Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
- Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
- Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
Correct answer: Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
The correct donning sequence (gown, mask, goggles, gloves) ensures proper coverage and minimizes contamination risk.
Question 4: What should be done first when a needlestick injury occurs?
- Wash the affected area immediately with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Complete an incident report before any other action
- Continue working and report at end of shift
- Apply a bandage without washing
Correct answer: Wash the affected area immediately with soap and water
Immediate washing with soap and water helps reduce the risk of infection transmission after a needlestick injury.
Question 5: How often should high-touch surfaces in clinical areas be cleaned?
- At least daily and after known contamination (Correct answer)
- Once per week
- Only when visibly soiled
- Once per month during deep cleaning
Correct answer: At least daily and after known contamination
High-touch surfaces harbor pathogens and should be cleaned at least daily, with additional cleaning after contamination events.
Question 6: What is the purpose of transmission-based precautions?
- To provide additional protection for patients with specific infections (Correct answer)
- To replace standard precautions entirely
- To reduce supply costs
- To simplify the care process
Correct answer: To provide additional protection for patients with specific infections
Transmission-based precautions supplement standard precautions for patients with known or suspected infections requiring additional safeguards.
ABCN Safety and Infection Control 1
What is the single most effective method for preventing the spread of infection?