CMA Infection Control & Sterile Technique 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A maternal fever during labor is defined as a temperature at or above:
- 37.5°C (99.5°F)
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) (Correct answer)
- 38.5°C (101.3°F)
- 39.0°C (102.2°F)
Correct answer: 38.0°C (100.4°F)
Intrapartum fever is defined as a single temperature ≥38.0°C (100.4°F), which warrants assessment for infection including chorioamnionitis.
Question 2: Which practice significantly reduces the risk of neonatal eye infection (ophthalmia neonatorum) caused by gonorrhea?
- Oral antibiotics for the newborn
- Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment applied to the newborn's eyes (Correct answer)
- Saline eye drops at birth
- Routine eye wash with sterile water
Correct answer: Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment applied to the newborn's eyes
Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is applied within 1–2 hours of birth to all newborns as prophylaxis against gonorrheal and chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Question 3: The most common cause of postpartum endometritis is:
- Herpes simplex virus
- Group A Streptococcus alone
- Polymicrobial ascending infection from the vagina (Correct answer)
- Staphylococcus aureus from skin flora
Correct answer: Polymicrobial ascending infection from the vagina
Postpartum endometritis is usually polymicrobial, caused by ascending vaginal flora including anaerobes, GBS, gram-negative rods, and enterococci.
Question 4: Which action contaminates a sterile gloved hand?
- Touching a sterile drape within the field
- Touching another sterile instrument
- Touching the patient's unprepped skin (Correct answer)
- Adjusting a sterile clamp with a sterile instrument
Correct answer: Touching the patient's unprepped skin
Touching unprepped, non-sterile surfaces such as the patient's skin outside the prepped area immediately contaminates the sterile glove.
Question 5: Rupture of membranes (ROM) lasting more than how many hours significantly increases infection risk?
- 6 hours
- 12 hours
- 18 hours
- 24 hours (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 24 hours
Prolonged ROM exceeding 18–24 hours significantly increases the risk of chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis due to ascending bacterial colonization.
Question 6: Proper disposal of sharps (needles, scalpels) used during a delivery should occur:
- In a regular trash bag for later disposal
- Immediately after use into a puncture-resistant sharps container (Correct answer)
- By recapping and placing on the sterile field
- In a biohazard bag without a rigid container
Correct answer: Immediately after use into a puncture-resistant sharps container
OSHA requires immediate disposal of used sharps into a puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.
CMA Infection Control & Sterile Technique 2
A maternal fever during labor is defined as a temperature at or above: