Infection Control & Prevention Flashcards
7 cards from real CO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Control & Prevention flashcards as text
Which type of microorganism is MOST resistant to standard disinfection and requires sterilization to eliminate?
Answer: Bacterial endospores
Bacterial endospores (e.g., Bacillus, Clostridium) are the most resistant to disinfection and require sterilization for destruction.
When applying a total-contact cast to a patient with a diabetic foot ulcer, which precaution is MOST important to prevent cross-infection?
Answer: Performing hand hygiene before and after the procedure
Hand hygiene before and after patient contact is the single most important practice for preventing cross-infection in clinical settings.
A patient with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is receiving orthotic care. Which precaution category applies?
Answer: Contact precautions
VRE is transmitted primarily through direct contact; contact precautions (gloves and gown) are required in addition to standard precautions.
What does 'standard precautions' assume about every patient?
Answer: All blood and body fluids are potentially infectious regardless of diagnosis
Standard precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, regardless of the patient's known or unknown infection status.
How frequently must orthotics clinic staff receive bloodborne pathogen training under OSHA requirements?
Answer: Annually
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that employees receive training at initial hire and then annually thereafter.
Which cleaning step must ALWAYS be performed before disinfecting an orthotic device or work surface?
Answer: Removing gross soil and debris with soap and water or detergent
Organic matter inactivates many disinfectants, so removing gross soil first is essential for disinfection to be effective.
An orthotist is trimming a fiberglass cast and generates significant dust. Which respiratory protection is MOST appropriate?
Answer: N95 filtering facepiece respirator
Cast dust contains particles that can penetrate surgical masks; an N95 respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles and is appropriate for this task.