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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Infection Control Quiz: Test Your Prevention Know-How!

Ready to tackle infection control trivia? Dive into our infection prevention quiz and prove your expertise!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration shows infection control quiz with PPE gloves mask sanitizer and hygiene icons on teal background

This infection control quiz helps you check what to do with PPE, hand hygiene, and isolation so you can keep patients and coworkers safe. Use it to spot gaps before your next shift or annual training, and learn a tip or two as you go. For a quick refresh, see our infection prevention overview and try the companion quiz .

Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent the spread of pathogens in healthcare settings?
Routine environmental cleaning
Performing proper hand hygiene
Wearing gloves at all times
Safe injection practices
Proper hand hygiene is recognized as the single most effective action to reduce healthcare-associated infections by removing transient microorganisms. It interrupts pathogen transmission before and after patient contact. Other measures like glove use and cleaning are important but complement hand hygiene. For further guidance, see .
When should healthcare workers perform hand hygiene during patient care?
At the end of the shift
Only if gloves are torn
Before initial patient contact
Only after exposure to body fluids
Hand hygiene should be performed before touching a patient to prevent transmitting pathogens to the patient. Its one of the Five Moments for hand hygiene advocated by the WHO. Waiting until after fluid exposure or the end of a shift misses critical prevention points. More details are available at .
Standard precautions in healthcare settings apply to which group of patients?
All patients, regardless of diagnosis
Patients in intensive care units
Only surgical patients
Only patients with known infections
Standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status. They assume that all blood and body fluids may be infectious. These precautions include hand hygiene, use of PPE, and safe practices. See for more information.
What is the primary purpose of contact precautions?
To prevent transmission by direct or indirect contact
To block airborne droplet nuclei
To protect against bloodborne pathogens
To minimize ingestion of contaminated food
Contact precautions are designed to prevent the spread of infectious agents that are transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patients environment. They include the use of gowns and gloves. Respiratory and airborne routes require different measures. For details, visit .
Which of these actions is the first step when removing used gloves safely?
Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist
Wash hands immediately
Pull the glove off from the fingertips
Roll both gloves off at once
The safe removal of gloves begins by grasping the outside of one glove at the wrist to minimize contamination. You then peel it away turning it inside out and hold it in the gloved hand to remove the second glove. This method prevents skin contact with contaminated surfaces. Refer to for more guidance.
Which personal protective equipment is essential for contact precautions?
Mask and goggles
N95 respirator and gloves
Gloves and gown
Face shield and shoe covers
Contact precautions require the use of gloves and a gown to prevent transmission by direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. Masks and respirators are not primary for contact-based spread. Protective eyewear can be added for anticipated fluid splash. More details at .
How is sterilization best defined?
Inactivation of viruses only
Complete elimination of all forms of microbial life
Reduction of microorganisms to safe levels
Removal of organic material from surfaces
Sterilization is the process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including spores, on an object or surface. It is more rigorous than disinfection, which may not kill high numbers of bacterial spores. Sterilization methods include steam under pressure, dry heat, or chemical sterilants. For standards, see .
At what temperature does an autoclave typically sterilize medical instruments?
100C
60C
135C
121C
Autoclaves commonly sterilize instruments at 121C (250F) under 15 psi for a standard exposure time, which effectively kills spores and vegetative microorganisms. Lower temperatures are inadequate and higher temperatures may damage instruments. For cycle parameters, consult .
An N95 respirator is specifically designed to protect against which type of transmission?
Vector-borne pathogens
Large respiratory droplets
Direct contact with fluids
Airborne droplet nuclei
N95 respirators filter at least 95% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns, protecting against inhalation of droplet nuclei that can remain suspended in the air. They are essential for airborne pathogens like tuberculosis. They are not required for large droplets or contact transmission. More information is available at .
What is the minimum recommended duration for handwashing with soap and water?
30 seconds
20 seconds
10 seconds
5 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing all hand surfaces with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens. Shorter durations are insufficient to break down oils and dislodge microbes. Singing Happy Birthday twice is a common timing guide. See for details.
Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred over soap and water except when:
After glove removal
Before eating
Hands are visibly soiled
After contact with a patient
Alcohol-based hand rubs are effective, fast, and well-tolerated unless hands are visibly dirty or soiled with blood or body fluids; in those cases, soap and water are recommended. They are otherwise preferred for routine decontamination. Learn more at .
High-level disinfection is capable of killing which of the following?
Bacterial spores only
Vegetative bacteria only
All viruses and fungi but not bacteria
All microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores
High-level disinfectants destroy all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores. They are used for semi-critical items that contact mucous membranes, such as endoscopes. Sterilization is required to eliminate spores completely. See .
What is the correct sequence for donning sterile gloves after performing surgical hand antisepsis?
Don mask, then don gown and gloves together
Don sterile gown, then don sterile gloves
Perform hand hygiene, don mask, don gloves
Don gloves, then don gown
After surgical hand antisepsis, the recommended sequence is to don the sterile gown first, ensuring cuffs remain covered, then don the sterile gloves over the gown sleeve to maintain asepsis. Gloving before gowning risks contamination of the gown. For detailed steps, see .
Antiseptics differ from disinfectants in that they:
Are only used on inanimate objects
Can be safely applied to living tissue
Are not effective against viruses
Always kill bacterial spores
Antiseptics are antimicrobial agents safe for application on living tissue, such as skin or mucous membranes, whereas disinfectants are used on inanimate surfaces. Neither may guarantee spore eradication unless they are high-level agents. More information is at .
How should used sharps be disposed of in a healthcare setting?
Left on a tray for later disposal
Recapped and placed in regular trash
Immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container
Stored in a biohazard bag first
Sharps must be discarded immediately after use into a labeled, puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries. Recapping or delaying disposal increases risk of injury. Biohazard bags are not sufficient alone. See for guidelines.
Why do biofilms on medical devices increase infection risk?
They enhance device biocompatibility
They protect bacteria from antimicrobial agents
They increase oxygen levels locally
They prevent bacterial adhesion
Biofilms are structured communities of bacteria that adhere to surfaces and produce a protective extracellular matrix, reducing the efficacy of antimicrobials and immune clearance. They form on catheters, endoscopes, and implants. This leads to persistent infections. For in-depth review, see .
What is the recommended minimum air changes per hour (ACH) for an airborne infection isolation room?
2 ACH
6 ACH
12 ACH
20 ACH
The CDC recommends at least 12 air changes per hour in new airborne infection isolation rooms to effectively remove airborne contaminants. Older facilities may have lower standards but should aim for at least 6 ACH. Adequate ventilation reduces pathogen concentration. More details at .
How long should surgical hand antisepsis last before invasive procedures according to CDC guidelines?
1 minute
2 to 6 minutes
10 minutes
30 seconds
CDC guidelines recommend surgical hand antisepsis procedures last between 2 to 6 minutes to effectively reduce microbial counts on hands. Shorter scrubbing times may not achieve adequate decontamination, and longer times offer no additional benefit. For the full protocol, see .
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is most effective at which wavelength?
400 nm
365 nm
254 nm
222 nm
UV germicidal lamps emitting at 254 nanometers are most effective at disrupting microbial DNA and RNA, rendering pathogens nonviable. Other wavelengths have lower germicidal efficacy or penetrate less effectively. Safety measures should be observed to prevent human exposure. More info at .
What is the correct sequence for donning high-level isolation PPE such as for Ebola virus disease?
Gloves, gown, respirator, goggles, hand hygiene
Hand hygiene, gown/coverall, respirator, goggles/face shield, gloves
Respirator, hand hygiene, gown, gloves, goggles
Gown/coverall, hand hygiene, goggles, respirator, gloves
For high-level isolation, the recommended order is hand hygiene first, then gown or coverall, then respirator or mask, followed by eye protection, and finally gloves to ensure each piece is donned without contaminating underlying layers. This sequence minimizes self-contamination. Protocols vary slightly, refer to .
Endoscope reprocessing between uses requires which level of disinfection?
Low-level disinfection
High-level disinfection
Sterilization
Intermediate-level disinfection
Endoscopes contact mucous membranes and thus require high-level disinfection between patient uses. Sterilization can be used but may damage delicate equipment. Intermediate or low-level disinfection is insufficient. For standards, see .
When should a sporicidal agent be used for environmental cleaning in healthcare settings?
After discharge of a patient with Clostridioides difficile infection
When cleaning influenza isolation rooms
Only in operating rooms
During routine cleaning of patient rooms
Spore-forming organisms like C. difficile require a sporicidal agent for environmental decontamination because standard disinfectants are ineffective against spores. After a patient with C. difficile is discharged, surfaces must be cleaned with chlorine-based or other sporicidal products. Routine cleaning or influenza rooms do not require sporicidal agents. See .
Which practice is most effective in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections?
Clamping the catheter when not in use
Using aseptic technique during insertion
Replacing catheters every 48 hours
Instilling antibiotics into the bladder
Aseptic insertion technique minimizes introduction of pathogens into the urinary tract, which is the primary prevention strategy for catheter-associated UTIs. Routine catheter changes or instillation of antibiotics are not recommended and may increase resistance. Cleaning and maintenance are also important. For guidelines, see .
What is the optimal alcohol concentration range in hand sanitizers for effective microbial kill?
30%50% alcohol
60%95% alcohol
20%40% alcohol
100% alcohol
Alcohol concentrations between 60% and 95% are most effective for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes of microorganisms. Concentrations below 60% are less effective, while 100% evaporates too quickly to kill pathogens. Consult for more details.
According to APIC guidelines, what concentration and contact time of peracetic acid is required for high-level disinfection?
0.2% for 12 minutes
0.35% for 5 minutes
2% for 20 minutes
5% for 3 minutes
Peracetic acid at a concentration of around 0.2% with a 12-minute contact time is recommended for high-level disinfection of heat-sensitive medical devices. Higher concentrations may damage equipment, while shorter contact times are ineffective. APIC and manufacturers instructions provide specific protocols. See for full guidance.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Apply Hand Hygiene Standards -

    Demonstrate proper handwashing and sanitization techniques based on infection control best practices to effectively reduce germ transmission.

  2. Identify Appropriate PPE Usage -

    Recognize the correct selection, donning, and doffing of personal protective equipment to maintain safety in healthcare environments.

  3. Evaluate Sterilization and Disinfection Methods -

    Distinguish between sterilization and disinfection protocols, ensuring optimal instrument and surface decontamination.

  4. Recall Key Infection Prevention Protocols -

    Memorize essential standards and guidelines that underpin robust infection control strategies across clinical settings.

  5. Analyze Common Contamination Risks -

    Assess scenarios that pose high infection risks and determine best practices to mitigate cross-contamination.

  6. Test Infection Control Quiz Expertise -

    Engage with targeted infection control questions to gauge your strengths, refresh critical knowledge, and enhance quiz performance.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Hand Hygiene and WHO's "Five Moments" -

    Effective handwashing is the foundation of infection control and pops up on every infection control quiz. Use the WHO "Five Moments" mnemonic - Before Touching, Before Aseptic Procedure, After Body Fluid Exposure, After Touching Patient, After Touching Surroundings - to ensure complete coverage. Alcohol-based rubs with at least 60% ethanol, as recommended by the CDC, kill most pathogens in just 20 seconds.

  2. PPE Donning and Doffing Sequence -

    Proper gown, glove, mask, and eye protection order is essential for safe practice and a common infection control trivia question. Remember the phrase "G-G-M-E" (Gown, Gloves, Mask, Eye protection) when putting on PPE, and reverse for removal - "E-M-G-G" - to prevent contamination. Practicing this routine helps you breeze through any healthcare infection control test.

  3. Standard vs. Transmission-Based Precautions -

    Standard Precautions apply to all patients, while Transmission-Based Precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) address specific pathogens - key concepts in any infection prevention quiz. Use the acronym "CDA" (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) to recall extra measures like private rooms or N95 respirators. Mastering this distinction will boost your score on infection control questions.

  4. Sterilization and Disinfection Levels -

    Sterilization destroys all microbial life, whereas disinfection reduces most pathogens but not spores - a frequent infection control best practices topic. Autoclaving (steam under pressure) is gold standard for instruments, while high-level chemical disinfectants work for heat-sensitive items. Remember "Sterilize to Eliminate, Disinfect to Reduce" to ace related infection control trivia.

  5. Environmental Cleaning and Safe Injection -

    Routine surface disinfection with EPA-registered products and proper sharps disposal are cornerstones of an infection prevention quiz. The "Clean-Contain-Dispose" mantra ensures you decontaminate surfaces, use puncture-resistant sharps containers, and never recap needles. Mastering these steps shows you've got top-tier infection control quiz chops.

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