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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Infection Control Quiz: Can You Prevent the Spread of Infections?

Think you know the nonscientific synonym for disease-producing organisms? Start the quiz on preventing the spread of infections!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art of bacteria shapes disinfectant spray soap on golden yellow background for infection control quiz

This quiz helps you practice preventing the spread of infections and build safe habits at work or home. You'll answer quick questions on hand hygiene, PPE, cleaning, disinfectants, and germs, then see what to review before a skills check. When you finish, try a related infection control quiz to keep your practice going.

What is the minimum time recommended for effective hand washing with soap and water?
60 seconds
10 seconds
5 seconds
20 seconds
The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens. Shorter durations may not sufficiently eliminate microorganisms. Proper technique and time ensure coverage of all hand surfaces and reduce transmission.
What is the primary purpose of alcohol-based hand rubs in infection control?
Kill pathogens quickly
Provide skin hydration
Polish surfaces
Remove visible dirt
Alcohol-based hand rubs rapidly kill many bacteria and viruses on the hands when soap and water are not available. They are less effective if hands are visibly soiled. They also help maintain skin health by containing emollients.
Which of the following is a bacterium often associated with skin infections?
Candida albicans
Rhinovirus
Staphylococcus aureus
Influenza virus
Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium commonly found on skin and can cause infections. Viruses like influenza and rhinovirus are not bacteria. Candida albicans is a fungus.
Which process primarily removes visible dirt and organic matter from surfaces?
Disinfection
Cleaning
Pasteurization
Sterilization
Cleaning removes visible soil and organic material, which is essential before disinfection or sterilization. Disinfection reduces microbial load but may not remove debris.
What level of disinfection is recommended for non-critical medical devices that touch intact skin?
Low-level disinfection
Sterilization
High-level disinfection
Intermediate-level disinfection
Intermediate-level disinfection is sufficient for non-critical devices contacting intact skin, as it inactivates most vegetative bacteria, viruses, and some fungi. High-level is reserved for semi-critical devices.
Which of the following does PPE stand for?
Preventive Pathogen Exclusion
Personal Protective Equipment
Public Protection Ensemble
Primary Pathogen Elimination
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, which includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection to prevent exposure to infectious agents.
Which practice is most effective at reducing sharps injuries?
Transporting sharps in open containers
Recapping needles immediately
Passing sharps directly hand-to-hand
Using needleless systems
Using needleless systems or safety-engineered sharps devices greatly reduces the risk of needle-stick injuries. Recapping and hand-to-hand passing increase risk.
What is the primary mode of transmission for the common cold virus?
Foodborne
Airborne
Vector-borne
Droplet
The common cold primarily spreads via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Airborne spread is less common.
How should contaminated linen from isolation rooms be handled?
Rinsed in room sink
Shaken to remove debris
Reused after UV exposure
Transported in a sealed bag
Contaminated linen should be placed in a sealed bag at the point of use to prevent pathogen dispersal. Shaking can aerosolize microbes.
What does the term 'asepsis' refer to in infection control?
Use of antibiotics
The presence of non-pathogenic organisms
Complete absence of microbes
Partial reduction of microbial load
Asepsis means preventing contact with microorganisms by maintaining a sterile environment. It is critical in surgical and clinical procedures.
Which of the following is NOT a recognized route of healthcare-associated infection?
Contact
Telephonic
Vehicle
Airborne
Contact, airborne, and vehicle (e.g., contaminated equipment) are recognized routes. 'Telephonic' transmission is not a biological route of infection.
What color-coded bin is typically used for infectious waste disposal in healthcare settings?
Green
Yellow
Red
Blue
Yellow bins are commonly designated for infectious or biohazardous waste in healthcare facilities. Different colors help ensure proper segregation.
What is a fomite in the context of infection control?
A type of airborne droplet
An inanimate object that can transmit microbes
An animal that carries a pathogen
A sterile dressing
Fomites are inanimate objects like doorknobs or bed rails that can harbor and transmit pathogens. Proper cleaning reduces this risk.
What is the first step in donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Perform hand hygiene
Adjust face shield
Put on gloves
Don gown
Hand hygiene is the first step before donning any PPE to prevent contaminating equipment during the process.
How often should alcohol-based hand rub dispensers be checked for inventory in a hospital unit?
Monthly
Yearly
Weekly
Daily
Dispensers should be checked daily to ensure availability and prevent stockouts, supporting ongoing hand hygiene compliance.
What does sterilization achieve that disinfection does not?
Kills all microorganisms including spores
Inactivates vegetative bacteria only
Reduces microbial load by 99%
Removes visible soil
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, while disinfection may not eliminate spores.
Which is the key difference between sterilization and high-level disinfection?
High-level disinfection removes visible dirt
Sterilization preserves microbial structure
Sterilization kills all microbes including spores
High-level disinfection is faster than sterilization
Sterilization kills all forms of microbial life, including spores. High-level disinfection kills most organisms but may not inactivate spores.
Which chemical is commonly used for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive endoscopes?
Ethanol
Phenol
Sodium hypochlorite
Glutaraldehyde
Glutaraldehyde is widely used for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive equipment because it kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
At what temperature and duration will an autoclave achieve sterilization at 121°C?
15 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
Standard steam sterilization at 121°C for 15 minutes under pressure effectively kills all microbes, including spores.
Which genus of bacteria is known for producing highly resistant spores?
Bacillus
Mycoplasma
Staphylococcus
Escherichia
Bacillus species, such as Bacillus anthracis, form endospores that resist heat, chemicals, and radiation, making them challenging to eradicate.
Which isolation precaution is required for a patient with active tuberculosis?
Droplet precautions
Airborne precautions
Contact precautions
Standard precautions only
Airborne precautions, including negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators, are required to prevent spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis via droplet nuclei.
Which method effectively kills bacterial spores on medical instruments?
Autoclaving
Alcohol swabbing
UV lamp exposure
Bleach wiping
Autoclaving uses pressurized steam at high temperature to destroy spores that resist other methods.
Which virus is enveloped and generally more susceptible to disinfectants?
Poliovirus
Influenza virus
Norovirus
Adenovirus
Enveloped viruses like influenza have a lipid membrane that disinfectants disrupt, making them easier to inactivate than non-enveloped viruses.
What is the main active ingredient in common household bleach used for disinfection?
Sodium hypochlorite
Magnesium sulfate
Calcium carbonate
Potassium iodide
Household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which releases chlorine to inactivate bacteria, viruses, and fungi on surfaces.
After removing gloves, which action should you perform next?
Touch your face
Don new gloves immediately
Dispose of mask
Perform hand hygiene
Hand hygiene after glove removal prevents transfer of microbes that may have contaminated hands during glove removal.
In disinfection protocols, what does 'contact time' refer to?
Duration disinfectant remains wet on surface
Total cleaning shift duration
Time until residue dries
Time to prepare disinfectant
Contact time is the period a disinfectant must stay in contact with a surface, remaining wet, to achieve its claimed microbial kill.
Which indicator is considered the gold standard for validating steam sterilization efficacy?
Biological indicator with spores
Bowie-Dick test
Chemical indicator tape
Temperature gauge
Biological indicators containing resistant spores confirm whether sterilization conditions were sufficient to kill spores, ensuring effective sterilization.
How is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) most commonly transmitted in healthcare settings?
Airborne droplets
Direct contact
Contaminated food
Vector-borne insects
MRSA spreads primarily via direct patient-to-patient or healthcare worker-to-patient contact. Proper contact precautions reduce its transmission.
What reprocessing level is required for flexible endoscopes that contact mucous membranes?
Intermediate-level disinfection
High-level disinfection
Low-level disinfection
Standard cleaning only
High-level disinfection is required for semi-critical devices like endoscopes that contact mucous membranes to eliminate pathogens except high numbers of spores.
What is the principle of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in healthcare environments?
Denatures proteins by heat
Damages microbial DNA
Removes surface debris
Alters cell membrane lipids
UV-C light damages the DNA and RNA of microorganisms, preventing replication. It is used for surface and air disinfection.
Which staining technique is used to detect acid-fast bacilli such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
Ziehl-Neelsen stain
Giemsa stain
Wright stain
Gram stain
The Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain uses carbol fuchsin and acid-alcohol to identify acid-fast bacilli which retain dye due to mycolic acids.
What defines a nosocomial infection?
Acquired in the community
Acquired in a healthcare facility
Spread by vectors
Present on admission
Nosocomial infections, or healthcare-associated infections, develop in patients during their stay in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
How do surfactants in disinfectants inactivate microorganisms?
By inhibiting protein synthesis
By causing DNA breakage
By chelating metal ions
By disrupting cell membranes
Surfactants disrupt the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, leading to leakage of cellular contents and microbial death. They are common in detergents and disinfectants.
For droplet precautions, what is the minimum spatial separation recommended between patients and visitors?
10 feet
1 foot
3 feet
6 feet
A distance of at least 3 feet (approximately 1 meter) helps prevent spread of droplets that may carry pathogens. This is recommended by CDC for droplet precautions.
What is the primary mechanism by which alcohol disinfectants kill bacteria?
Denaturing proteins
Hydrolyzing nucleic acids
Oxidizing cell walls
Chelating enzymes
Alcohols denature proteins and dissolve lipids, effectively killing many bacteria and viruses on surfaces and skin.
An intermediate-level disinfectant is defined by its ability to inactivate which of the following?
Bacterial spores
Bacterial endotoxins
Mycobacteria and viruses
Prions
Intermediate-level disinfectants kill vegetative bacteria, most viruses, and mycobacteria but do not reliably kill spores.
For how long can Clostridioides difficile spores survive on environmental surfaces if not properly cleaned?
Weeks
Months
Hours
Days
C. difficile spores can persist on surfaces for months, making rigorous environmental cleaning essential to prevent transmission.
Which intervention reduces aerosol generation during patient intubation?
Use of video laryngoscopy
Blind nasal intubation
Twice-daily mouthwash
Open suctioning
Video laryngoscopy increases distance between provider and airway, reducing aerosol exposure during intubation.
What is the role of a Bunsen burner in microbiology labs?
Flaming and sterilizing instruments
Filtering air
Incubating cultures
Measuring pH
Bunsen burners create a flame to sterilize loops and instruments and maintain an aseptic field in microbiology work.
Which sterilization method is appropriate for heat- and moisture-sensitive medical devices?
Autoclaving
Boiling water immersion
Dry heat
Ethylene oxide gas
Ethylene oxide gas sterilization is used for heat- and moisture-sensitive equipment because it penetrates packaging and destroys microorganisms without high temperatures.
Which form of hydrogen peroxide is used for low-temperature sterilization?
Liquid hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide gel
Hydrogen peroxide foam
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide
Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is used in low-temperature sterilizers to destroy bacteria and spores without heat damage.
What is the purpose of laminar airflow systems in operating rooms?
Prevent microbial contamination by unidirectional air flow
Filter out chemical fumes
Humidify the air
Heat the surgical site
Laminar airflow provides a unidirectional flow of filtered air to sweep away contaminants, reducing surgical site infection risk.
An FFP3 respirator mask provides at least what percentage of particle filtration efficiency?
50%
80%
99%
94%
FFP3 masks filter at least 99% of airborne particles and are used for high-risk aerosol-generating procedures.
Which neutralizing agent is used to inactivate chlorine before disposal of rinse water?
Acetic acid
Ethanol
Sodium thiosulfate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium thiosulfate neutralizes residual chlorine in waste water, preventing environmental harm and equipment corrosion.
What is the minimum concentration of alcohol in an alcohol-based hand rub for effective antisepsis?
30%
60%
90%
50%
An alcohol concentration of at least 60% is required to denature proteins and disrupt membranes of most pathogens.
What does the phenol coefficient measure in disinfectant evaluation?
Toxicity to humans
Relative potency compared to phenol
Spectrum of activity against viruses
Corrosiveness compared to phenol
The phenol coefficient compares the effectiveness of a disinfectant to phenol under standardized conditions, indicating relative germicidal strength.
What is the principle behind passive immunization in infection control?
Administering preformed antibodies to the recipient
Using live attenuated vaccines
Providing inactivated toxins
Stimulating the recipient's own immune response
Passive immunization involves giving preformed antibodies (e.g., immunoglobulins) to provide immediate but temporary protection.
Which classification best describes Mycobacterium tuberculosis in terms of staining?
Gram-negative rods
Spirochete
Gram-positive cocci
Acid-fast bacillus
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast bacillus due to its mycolic acid - rich cell wall, which retains carbol fuchsin dye after acid-alcohol wash.
How does biofilm formation on medical device surfaces impact disinfection?
It enhances disinfectant penetration
It only affects viral particles
It reduces microbial adhesion
It protects pathogens by creating a resistant matrix
Biofilms produce a protective extracellular matrix that impedes disinfectant access, making microbes more resistant and requiring higher-level or prolonged treatment.
What is the D-value in sterilization validation?
Dose of disinfectant applied per square inch
Time to reduce microbial population by 90% at a specific temperature
Duration of cooling cycle
Distance between steam jets in an autoclave
The D-value is the decimal reduction time, representing how long it takes at a given temperature to kill 90% of the target microorganisms.
Which mechanism describes how peracetic acid achieves sterilization?
Lowering cell pH without oxidation
Oxidation of proteins and enzymes
Chelation of metal ions
Adsorption onto cell walls
Peracetic acid is a strong oxidizer that disrupts cell walls and denatures proteins and enzymes, leading to microbial death, including spores.
Which protocol is effective for prion decontamination on surgical instruments?
Standard high-level disinfection
Immersion in 1N sodium hydroxide for 1 hour followed by autoclaving
Autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes
UV-C exposure for 30 minutes
Prions resist standard sterilization; 1N sodium hydroxide immersion for 1 hour followed by autoclaving at 121°C is recommended to inactivate prion proteins.
What sterility assurance level (SAL) is the target for sterilized medical devices?
10?? (one in a billion)
10?? (one in a million)
10?³ (one in a thousand)
10?² (one in a hundred)
An SAL of 10?? indicates a one-in-a-million chance of a viable microorganism on a sterilized device, the standard benchmark for medical equipment.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the primary concept of infection control -

    Define the phrase "preventing the spread of infections is ______" to solidify your grasp of infection prevention principles.

  2. Identify nonscientific synonyms for disease-producing organisms -

    Recognize everyday terms used to describe harmful microbes and reinforce your familiarity with common infection terminology.

  3. Differentiate major bacteria types and disinfectant functions -

    Analyze how various bacterial species respond to different disinfectants and sharpen your knowledge of their interactions.

  4. Apply infection prevention best practices -

    Use proven strategies to halt the spread of infections at their source and incorporate effective control measures into routine protocols.

  5. Evaluate your infection control proficiency -

    Assess your performance on the infection control quiz to identify strengths and areas for improvement in your infection prevention skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Chain of Infection Essentials -

    Preventing the spread of infections is foundational to breaking the chain of infection, which comprises six links: reservoir, pathogen, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Use the mnemonic "RIP-PSH" to remember each link. Interrupting any one link - such as by isolating a reservoir or using barriers - halts pathogen transmission (CDC).

  2. "Germs" as a Nonscientific Synonym -

    In everyday and patient-friendly language, "germs" is the nonscientific synonym for disease-producing organisms, encompassing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Reinforce that "germs" still require precise control measures like hand hygiene and surface disinfectants. Framing pathogens as "germs" helps learners recall key prevention strategies in nontechnical settings (WHO).

  3. Bacteria Types and Gram Stain -

    Bacteria are broadly classified into Gram-positive (purple) and Gram-negative (pink) based on cell-wall structure revealed by the Gram stain. Remember "Purple Positives, Pink Negatives" to sort cocci vs. bacilli shapes in clinical labs. Accurate identification guides antibiotic choice and infection control measures (American Society for Microbiology).

  4. Disinfectant Dilutions and Contact Time -

    Effective disinfection depends on correct concentration - for example, a 1:10 bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) with 10 minutes of wet contact time. Use a simple formula: C1V1=C2V2 to calculate dilutions. Always verify the manufacturer's instructions for each surface and pathogen type to ensure efficacy (EPA).

  5. Hand Hygiene & PPE Protocols -

    Hand hygiene using alcohol-based rubs for ≥20 seconds or soap-and-water for ≥40 seconds is a top infection prevention best practice outlined in WHO's "5 Moments." Don and doff PPE in the order: gown, mask, goggles, gloves (reverse for removal) to avoid self-contamination. Practice the "Clean In, Dirty Out" rule to keep patients and yourself safe (CDC).

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