Infection, Exposure Control, and Safety

When performing routine quality control for an autoclave, how frequently should the safety valve be checked to ensure it is functioning properly?

A. after each use

B. daily

C. monthly

D. weekly

monthly

During a minor surgical procedure, which of the following equipment is required to maintain surgical asepsis if something needs to be added to a sterile surgical tray?

A. transfer forceps

B. Rochester forceps

C. mosquito hemostat

D. sponge forceps

transfer forceps

Keeping contaminated equipment and supplies away from the medical assistant's clothing to prevent pathogen transmission to the next patient is an example of which of the following?

A. medical asepsis

B. surgical asepsis

C. sanitization

D. disinfection

medical asepsis

Handling exudate from a patient is an example of which of the following modes of disease transmission?

A. indirect

B. direct

C. airborne

D. vector

direct

The medical assistant is preparing to remove her gloves after a venipuncture and notices blood on the gloves. Where should the medical assistant dispose of her gloves?

A. a biohazard waste container

B. a red sharps container

C. a regular trash container

D. a specimen transport bag

a biohazard waste container

Which of the following chemicals is most commonly used to disinfect work surfaces?

A. benzalkonium chloride

B. chlorhexidine gluconate

C. isopropanol

D. sodium hypochlorite

sodium hypochlorite

Which of the following is the minimum PPE requirement when drawing ordered lab work on a patient with suspected HIV?

A. gown, gloves, and mask

B. gloves only

C. mask only

D. gloves and mask only

gloves only

As the medical assistant, you are assisting the primary provider with suture placement. What is the most important personal protective equipment you are going to gather for yourself and the provider?

A. Sterile Gloves

B. Face Mask

C. Body Gown

D. Shoe covers

Sterile Gloves

The medical assistant has received a requisition to collect a blood specimen on a patient infected with multidrug-resistant TB. When leaving the patient's room the medical assistant should be sure to

A. Remove her gloves, then the gown, then the mask.

B. Remove her gown, then the mask, then the gloves.

C. Remove her mask, then the gloves, then the gown.

D. Remove her mask, then the gown, then the gloves.

Remove her gloves, then the gown, then the mask.

Which of the following is the most common means of transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)?

A. direct contact with the skin of infected persons

B. direct contact with contaminated blood

C. inhaling contaminated respiratory droplets of infected persons

D. direct contact with contaminated feces

direct contact with the skin of infected persons

The medical assistant should place which of the following patients arriving to the medical office screening area in immediate isolation?

A. A patient with a known history of Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) presenting with a new wound.

B. A patient with a known history of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) of the GI tract.

C. A patient being seen for a fever and a rash who has never had chicken pox.

D. A patient reporting a high fever, stiff neck, blurry vision, and petechial rash.

A patient reporting a high fever, stiff neck, blurry vision, and petechial rash.

Which of the following personal protective equipment must be used when working with a patient suspected of having pertussis?

A. surgical mask

B. fluid resistant gown

C. N95 respirator

D. sterile gloves

surgical mask

When a phlebotomist enters an airborne isolation room, the appropriate PPE would be

A. gloves, N95 respirator

B. gown, gloves, N95 respirator

C. gown, gloves, mask

D. gown, mask

gloves, N95 respirator

Which of the diseases listed below require contact precautions?

A. Rubella, mumps, and pertussis

B. Parovirus B19, streptococcal, and mycoplasma

C. Neisseria meningitis, sepsis, and epiglottitis

D. Clostridium difficile, escherichia coli, and pediculosis

Clostridium difficile, escherichia coli, and pediculosis

Which of the following is a common allergic reaction to a latex product?

A. vertigo

B. hemorrhage

C. syncope

D. urticaria

urticaria

Which of the following actions by the medical assistant is the first line of defense in preventing the spread of microorganisms?

A. wear non-sterile gloves when performing venipuncture

B. perform regular hand hygiene

C. wear sterile gloves when changing a dressing

D. use aseptic technique when drawing up a medication

perform regular hand hygiene

Which of the following requires the highest level of disinfection in order to be destroyed?

A. organism that causes influenza

B. organism that causes giardiasis

C. organism that causes tetanus

D. organism that causes rotavirus

organism that causes tetanus

Which of the following should be stored in a refrigerator labeled with a biohazard sticker?

A. glucometer control solution

B. unused viral media tubes

C. xylocaine (Lidocaine HCl) 2% Jelly

D. prepared plasma specimens

prepared plasma specimens

A patient is diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Which of the following is the most likely source of the infection?

A. exposure from sharing a roommate's razor

B. recent dental implant surgery

C. improper use of a hypodermic needle

D. a hamburger from a local fast food restaurant

a hamburger from a local fast food restaurant

The final step the ECG technician should take with a patient on contact precautions is to

A. wash hands.

B. remove gloves.

C. avoid contaminated surfaces.

D. disinfect all equipment.

disinfect all equipment.

After hand washing, the ECG technician notices the patient has MRSA sores. The next step to take in order to prevent infection is to

A. reschedule the patient

when the MRSA sores have healed.

B. implement reverse isolation.

C. don a protective mask.

D. use universal precautions.

use universal precautions.

Which of the following would be considered a nosocomial infection?

A. an elderly man in the ER with flu-like symptoms

B. an 8-year old boy that develops chicken pox 2 days after admission

C. a female patient who develops a UTI after having a urinary catheter

D. a healthcare worker that develops Hepatitis C

a female patient who develops a UTI after having a urinary catheter

When transferring a patient from a wheelchair to the examination table, the wheelchair should be positioned so that the

A. strong side of the patient is closest to the medical assistant.

B. weak side of the patient is closest to the medical assistant.

C. patient's feet are positioned in front of the medical assistant.

D. back of the wheelchair is positioned in front of the medical assistant.

strong side of the patient is closest to the medical assistant.

A medical assistant completes a blood collection using the evacuated system with a safety needle. The needle safety device is activated immediately following the collection. The needle is removed from the tube holder/adapter and discarded in a sharps container. Which of the following best describes the medical assistant's actions?

A. The medical assistant activated the needle safety device too soon, but removing the needle was acceptable.

B. The medical assistant activated the needle safety device too soon and the needle and tube holder/adapter should not have been separated.

C. The medical assistant activated the needle safety device appropriately and removing the needle was acceptable.

D. The medical assistant activated the needle safety device appropriately, but the needle and tube holder/adapter should not have been separated.

The medical assistant activated the needle safety device appropriately, but the needle and tube holder/adapter should not have been separated.

During a phlebotomy collection, the needle came out of the patient's arm and the phlebotomist's gloves became grossly bloody. Which of the following statements correctly describes the disposal of the waste?

A. Dispose of the contaminated gloves in a biohazard bag; then dispose of the sharps in puncture-proof biohazard sharps container.

B. Dispose of the contaminated gloves in the trashcan; then dispose of the sharps in puncture-proof biohazard sharps container.

C. Dispose of the sharps in puncture-proof biohazard sharps container, then dispose of the contaminated gloves in a biohazard bag.

D. Dispose of the sharps in puncture-proof biohazard sharps container, then dispose of the contaminated gloves in the trashcan.

Dispose of the sharps in puncture-proof biohazard sharps container, then dispose of the contaminated gloves in a biohazard bag.

Which of the following statements by the medical assistant indicates the need for a better understanding of standard precautions?

A. The patient should wear a gown, gloves, and mask to maintain contact-droplet isolation.

B. I will perform hand hygiene after removing gloves.

C. Sharps containers should be replaced when 2/3 full.

D. Antimicrobial wipes may be used for cleaning an exam room between patients.

The patient should wear a gown, gloves, and mask to maintain contact-droplet isolation.

Which of the following skin disorders are noncommunicable?

A. alopecia

B. impetigo

C. scabies

D. poison ivy

alopecia

A patient suspected of having which of the following respiratory disorders should be placed in isolation in the medical office?

A. COPD

B. Active TB

C. Asthma

D. Croup

Active TB

It is appropriate for the medical assistant to use an alcohol-based hand rub as the only method of hand hygiene after which of the following activities?

A. applying non-sterile gloves for a dressing change

B. measuring a patient's apical pulse

C. using the restroom

D. assisting the physician with a laceration repair

measuring a patient's apical pulse

Which of the following is the most important defensive mechanism against pathogens?

A. oropharyngeal mucous membranes

B. intact skin

C. acidic environment of the digestive tract

D. the ability to cough and sneeze

intact skin

The medical assistant is reprocessing a contaminated endoscope. Which of the following is the minimum level of asepsis required for this instrument?

A. chemical sterilization

B. disinfection

C. autoclave

D. sanitization

disinfection

While giving a patient an injection, the patient jumped, causing the medical assistant to get stuck on the hand with a contaminated needle. After performing thorough hand washing, which of the following should the medical assistant do first?

A. Begin infectious disease prophylaxis.

B. Complete an exposure incident report.

C. Obtain patient consent for infectious disease testing.

D. Report the incident to a supervisor.

Report the incident to a supervisor.

Which of the following specific precautions should a patient be placed on to prevent the transmission of Clostridium difficile?

A. standard

B. airborne

C. droplet

D. contact

contact

When working with a patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the ECG technician should

A. take the precautions for a contact pathogen.

B. use a special mask as it is an airborne pathogen.

C. use the procedures for reverse isolation.

D. use gloves and a mask if the patient is being treated.

take the precautions for a contact pathogen.

Which precautions would be used for a patient with Pulmonary TB?

A. airborne

B. droplet

C. contact

D. percutaneous

airborne

If a patient has measles, which of the following is a required additional precaution?

A. hand hygiene

B. N95 respirator

C. gloves

D. eye protection

N95 respirator

A phlebotomist must follow transmission based precaution for which of the following patients?

A. patient with fever of unknown origin

B. patient who has rubeola

C. patient who has rheumatic fever

D. patient with pneumonia

patient who has rubeola

In addition to usual PPE what would you add or replace before entering a patient's room with air borne precautions.

A. Surgical mask

B. N95 respirator

C. Mask with face shield

D. Full face/head mask

N95 respirator

Which of the following disease states would require the use of a mask by the patient during transportation?

A. HIV and Varicella

B. Tuberculosis and Varicella

C. Hepatitis and Tuberculosis

D. Staphylococcal Infection and Hepatitis

Tuberculosis and Varicella

A phlebotomist has received a requisition to collect a blood specimen on a patient infected with diphtheria. The phlebotomist must be sure to follow what precautions?

A. standard precautions and airborne precautions

B. droplet precautions and contact precautions.

C. standard, airborne, droplet and contact precautions.

D. droplet precautions and airborne precautions.

standard, airborne, droplet and contact precautions.

When arriving at a patient's room for a timed blood draw, a phlebotomist observes an airborne precautions sign on the patient's door. How should the phlebotomist proceed?

A. Enter patient's room, and proceed with procedure, as it is time sensitive

B. Apply PPE, sterile cloth mask, and proceed with procedure

C. Apply N95, and proceed with procedure

D. Apply PPE and N95, and proceed with procedure

Apply PPE and N95, and proceed with procedure

Which of the following measures is applicable when treating patients diagnosed with tuberculosis?

A. Contact Precautions

B. Standard Precautions

C. Universal Precautions

D. Airborne Precautions

Airborne Precautions

An immunization is currently available for prevention of which of the following bloodborne diseases?

A. Hepatitis C

B. HIV

C. Herpes simplex

D. Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

Which of the following diseases is a bloodborne pathogen?

A. tuberculosis

B. hepatitis C

C. varicella

D. influenza

hepatitis C

Which federal agency is responsible for regulating safe workplace environments, including compliance with blood borne pathogen standards?

A. DEA

B. CLIA

C. FDA

D. OSHA

OSHA

Which of the following interventions is required by an employer, at no cost to the employee, following a needlestick exposure?

A. Offer Hepatitis B vaccine if the needle was contaminated.

B. Place exposed personnel on antiviral medications.

C. Offer HIV testing to the employee's spouse or significant other.

D. Provide a confidential medical evaluation.

Provide a confidential medical evaluation.

Which of the following is included in an exposure control plan?

A. dates of each employee's last tetanus booster

B. maintenance of incident report logs

C. documentation of annual bloodborne pathogen training

D. emergency exit markings in compliance with OSHA standards

documentation of annual bloodborne pathogen training

Which of the following best describes the proper way to clean up a broken glass ampule?

A. Use a paper towel to pick up the pieces of glass and place them in a trash can.

B. Place the pieces of glass on a piece of paper and carry the paper to the dumpster.

C. Use a wet towel and wipe over the area so that minute fragments of glass may be picked up.

D. Use a broom and dust pan to sweep up the glass and fragments and place in a sharps container.

Use a broom and dust pan to sweep up the glass and fragments and place in a sharps container.

While collecting a sample for HIV, HBV and HCV antibody tests, the phlebotomist accidentally sticks his finger when disconnecting the venipuncture. Which of the following should be the phlebotomist's immediate course of action?

A. Report the incident to the immediate supervisor.

B. Wash the site with a disinfectant for a minimum of 30 seconds.

C. Wash the site with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

D. Report directly to a licensed healthcare provider for treatment.

Wash the site with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

The first course of action a phlebotomist should follow immediately after a needle stick is

A. report the incident to the immediate supervisor.

B. wash the site with a disinfectant for a minimum of 30 seconds.

C. wash the site with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

D. report directly to a licensed healthcare provider for treatment.

wash the site with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

You are an employee in a healthcare setting and you have noticed a couple phlebotomists are not using proper hand washing technique. What standards are being violated?

A. CLIA

B. OSHA

C. JC

D. NAACLS

OSHA

When disposing of hazardous materials, the phlebotomist must adhere to the guidelines and standards set forth by

A. OSHA.

B. CLIA.

C. FDA.

D. the Lab Manager.

OSHA.

An exposure control plan must be

A. ordered through OSHA annually.

B. signed by all employees of the facility, regardless of their duties.

C. written, reviewed, and updated annually.

D. kept with the personal protective equipment for quick reference.

written, reviewed, and updated annually.

Which of the following actions by the medical assistant demonstrates the correct use of surgical asepsis?

A. closing the door to an exam room if a sterile field must be left unattended

B. opening sterile items with scrubbed hands

C. pouring liquids onto the sterile field from at least 20 inches above the field

D. replacing sterile items that may have become contaminated

replacing sterile items that may have become contaminated

Hemostatic forceps are primarily used for which of the following functions during minor surgery?

A. to clamp off blood vessels until they can be closed with sutures

B. to remove foreign objects

C. to destroy tissue by cutting and sealing blood flow using heat

D. to cut through tissues

to clamp off blood vessels until they can be closed with sutures

Sterilized instruments should be stored

A. for a maximum of 90 days.

B. with the tape side down to avoid susceptibility to contamination.

C. for a maximum of 10 days.

D. in a temperature controlled environment to prevent moisture accumulation.

in a temperature controlled environment to prevent moisture accumulation.

Which of the following items requires autoclave processing?

A. cautery pen

B. nylon sutures

C. synthetic sutures

D. transfer forceps

transfer forceps