Free HHA Infection Control and Safety Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is:
- Wearing a gown at all times
- Washing hands thoroughly and frequently (Correct answer)
- Using gloves for every task
- Wearing a face mask during all patient contact
Correct answer: Washing hands thoroughly and frequently
Proper hand hygiene — washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand rub — is the single most effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
Question 2: Standard precautions apply to:
- Only patients with known infectious diseases
- All patients regardless of diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Only bodily fluids that are visibly bloody
- Only patients in hospital settings
Correct answer: All patients regardless of diagnosis
Standard precautions treat all blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes as potentially infectious for every patient, preventing unknown transmission.
Question 3: A patient has been diagnosed with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). What additional precaution is typically required?
- Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator
- Contact precautions — gown and gloves when entering the room (Correct answer)
- Droplet precautions only
- No additional precautions beyond standard
Correct answer: Contact precautions — gown and gloves when entering the room
MRSA is transmitted by direct contact. Contact precautions (gown + gloves on entry, removing before exit) contain the organism and prevent spread to other patients or staff.
Question 4: Used sharps (needles, lancets) should be disposed of in:
- A regular plastic bag
- A puncture-resistant sharps container (Correct answer)
- A paper bag sealed with tape
- The kitchen waste bin
Correct answer: A puncture-resistant sharps container
Puncture-resistant sharps containers prevent needlestick injuries. Placing sharps in regular trash bags is dangerous and illegal in most jurisdictions.
Question 5: An aide should change gloves:
- Only at the beginning and end of the entire visit
- Between tasks on the same patient if moving from a contaminated area to a clean area (Correct answer)
- Only when they are visibly torn
- Gloves are not required in home care settings
Correct answer: Between tasks on the same patient if moving from a contaminated area to a clean area
Changing gloves between tasks (e.g., from perineal care to wound care) prevents cross-contamination. Wearing one pair throughout a visit spreads pathogens.
Question 6: Which of the following is the correct order of donning (putting on) PPE?
- Gloves → gown → mask → eye protection
- Gown → mask → eye protection → gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask → gloves → gown → eye protection
- Eye protection → gown → gloves → mask
Correct answer: Gown → mask → eye protection → gloves
The correct donning order is: gown → mask/respirator → eye protection/face shield → gloves. This sequence ensures each item is correctly secured before the next potentially contaminated item is added.
Free HHA Infection Control and Safety Questions and Answers 2
The most effective way to prevent the spread of infection is: