CMA Infection Control & Sterile Technique 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hand hygiene technique is recommended before assisting with a sterile procedure in midwifery?
- Quick hand rinse with water
- Alcohol-based hand rub only
- Surgical hand scrub with antimicrobial soap for at least 2–3 minutes (Correct answer)
- Soap and water for 10 seconds
Correct answer: Surgical hand scrub with antimicrobial soap for at least 2–3 minutes
A surgical hand scrub with antimicrobial soap for 2–3 minutes (or per institutional protocol) is required before any sterile field procedure.
Question 2: When is it appropriate to break sterile technique during a birth procedure?
- When gloves become uncomfortable
- Never — a contaminated field must be replaced or re-established (Correct answer)
- When the procedure is nearly complete
- When the provider deems it acceptable
Correct answer: Never — a contaminated field must be replaced or re-established
A compromised sterile field is never acceptable; contaminated items must be removed and replaced to prevent infection.
Question 3: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) prophylaxis is typically administered to GBS-positive mothers via which route?
- Oral antibiotics at home
- Intramuscular injection at admission
- Intravenous penicillin during active labor (Correct answer)
- Topical vaginal antibiotic cream
Correct answer: Intravenous penicillin during active labor
IV penicillin G is the first-line antibiotic given intrapartum to GBS-positive mothers to prevent neonatal GBS disease.
Question 4: Standard precautions in a birth setting require that blood and amniotic fluid be treated as:
- Non-infectious unless the patient is known HIV-positive
- Potentially infectious for all patients regardless of diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Infectious only if visible clots are present
- Low risk because amniotic fluid is sterile
Correct answer: Potentially infectious for all patients regardless of diagnosis
Standard precautions require all blood and body fluids be treated as potentially infectious for every patient, regardless of known status.
Question 5: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential when catching a baby at delivery?
- Gloves only
- Gloves and mask only
- Gloves, gown, eye protection, and mask (Correct answer)
- Gloves and gown only
Correct answer: Gloves, gown, eye protection, and mask
Full PPE — gloves, waterproof gown, eye/face protection, and mask — protects against splashing blood and amniotic fluid during delivery.
Question 6: Chorioamnionitis is an infection of which structures?
- The fetal lungs
- The placenta and fetal membranes (Correct answer)
- The maternal bladder and urethra
- The umbilical cord vessels only
Correct answer: The placenta and fetal membranes
Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the chorion, amnion, and amniotic fluid, often caused by ascending bacteria from the vagina.
CMA Infection Control & Sterile Technique 1
Which hand hygiene technique is recommended before assisting with a sterile procedure in midwifery?