Infection Control and Medical Asepsis Flashcards
6 cards from real NCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infection Control and Medical Asepsis flashcards as text
In the chain of infection, which link is broken by proper hand hygiene?
Answer: Mode of Transmission
Proper hand hygiene, including handwashing and using alcohol-based rubs, directly interrupts the mode of transmission. This prevents pathogens from being carried from a reservoir or source to a susceptible host.
Which of the following is the primary goal of medical asepsis?
Answer: To reduce the number of pathogens and prevent their spread.
Medical asepsis, also known as 'clean technique,' aims to reduce the number of microorganisms and prevent their spread. It does not eliminate all microorganisms, which is the goal of surgical asepsis (sterilization).
The process that destroys all microbial life, including spores, is called:
Answer: Sterilization
Sterilization is the complete elimination of all forms of microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial spores. Disinfection eliminates many pathogens but not necessarily spores, while sanitization simply lowers microbial counts to safe levels.
According to Standard Precautions, when should a medical assistant wear gloves?
Answer: When anticipating contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Standard Precautions dictate that healthcare workers should assume all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes are potentially infectious. Therefore, gloves should be worn whenever there is a risk of contact with these substances.
A medical assistant accidentally sticks themselves with a used needle. What is the first step they should take?
Answer: Wash the area with soap and water.
The immediate priority after a needlestick injury is to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. This helps to remove any potential contaminants from the surface of the skin before reporting the incident and seeking medical evaluation.
What is the correct way to dispose of a used syringe and needle?
Answer: Place it in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container.
Used needles and other sharps must be disposed of immediately in a designated sharps container. These containers are puncture-resistant, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard symbol to ensure safe handling and prevent accidental injuries.