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AAMI COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW EXAM (ARTS) TEST BANK WITH Original Practice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION CONTROL
1. Which of the following microorganisms is the MOST resistant
to sterilization processes?
A) Viruses
B) Bacterial spores
C) Gram-positive bacteria
D) Fungi
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacterial spores (e.g., from Clostridium and Bacillus
species) are the most resistant forms of microbial life.
Sterilization processes are validated using spore-forming
bacteria because if spores are killed, all other microorganisms
are also destroyed.
2. The primary purpose of decontamination is to:
A) Sterilize instruments
B) Reduce the bioburden and make items safe to handle
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C) Package instruments for sterilization
D) Store sterile items
Answer: B
Rationale: Decontamination reduces the microbial load
(bioburden) on instruments, making them safe for handling by
staff before cleaning and sterilization.
3. Which of the following is a prion disease?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
C) HIV
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Prions are infectious proteins that cause Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease. They are highly resistant to standard sterilization
and require special handling.
4. The minimum recommended temperature for thermal
disinfection is:
A) 150°F (65°C)
B) 180°F (82°C)
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C) 200°F (93°C)
D) 212°F (100°C)
Answer: B
Rationale: Thermal disinfection typically requires temperatures
of 180°F (82°C) or higher for effective microbial kill.
5. Which of the following is the correct order for processing
surgical instruments?
A) Sterilization → Decontamination → Packaging → Storage
B) Decontamination → Cleaning → Packaging → Sterilization →
Storage
C) Cleaning → Decontamination → Sterilization → Packaging
D) Packaging → Decontamination → Sterilization → Storage
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct workflow: decontamination, cleaning,
inspection, packaging, sterilization, then storage.
6. The most common cause of surgical site infections is:
A) Contaminated instruments
B) The patient's own skin flora
C) Contaminated implants
D) Poor hand hygiene only
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Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's own endogenous flora (especially
Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci) is
the most common source of surgical site infections.
7. Which of the following is a gram-positive bacterium?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C) Staphylococcus aureus
D) Klebsiella pneumoniae
Answer: C
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is gram-positive (retains
crystal violet stain). E. coli, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella are
gram-negative.
8. Which of the following is a gram-negative bacterium?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Streptococcus pyogenes
C) Escherichia coli
D) Clostridium difficile
Answer: C
AAMI COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW EXAM (ARTS) TEST BANK WITH Original Practice
Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION CONTROL
1. Which of the following microorganisms is the MOST resistant
to sterilization processes?
A) Viruses
B) Bacterial spores
C) Gram-positive bacteria
D) Fungi
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacterial spores (e.g., from Clostridium and Bacillus
species) are the most resistant forms of microbial life.
Sterilization processes are validated using spore-forming
bacteria because if spores are killed, all other microorganisms
are also destroyed.
2. The primary purpose of decontamination is to:
A) Sterilize instruments
B) Reduce the bioburden and make items safe to handle
, Page |2
C) Package instruments for sterilization
D) Store sterile items
Answer: B
Rationale: Decontamination reduces the microbial load
(bioburden) on instruments, making them safe for handling by
staff before cleaning and sterilization.
3. Which of the following is a prion disease?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
C) HIV
D) Tuberculosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Prions are infectious proteins that cause Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease. They are highly resistant to standard sterilization
and require special handling.
4. The minimum recommended temperature for thermal
disinfection is:
A) 150°F (65°C)
B) 180°F (82°C)
, Page |3
C) 200°F (93°C)
D) 212°F (100°C)
Answer: B
Rationale: Thermal disinfection typically requires temperatures
of 180°F (82°C) or higher for effective microbial kill.
5. Which of the following is the correct order for processing
surgical instruments?
A) Sterilization → Decontamination → Packaging → Storage
B) Decontamination → Cleaning → Packaging → Sterilization →
Storage
C) Cleaning → Decontamination → Sterilization → Packaging
D) Packaging → Decontamination → Sterilization → Storage
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct workflow: decontamination, cleaning,
inspection, packaging, sterilization, then storage.
6. The most common cause of surgical site infections is:
A) Contaminated instruments
B) The patient's own skin flora
C) Contaminated implants
D) Poor hand hygiene only
, Page |4
Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's own endogenous flora (especially
Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci) is
the most common source of surgical site infections.
7. Which of the following is a gram-positive bacterium?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C) Staphylococcus aureus
D) Klebsiella pneumoniae
Answer: C
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is gram-positive (retains
crystal violet stain). E. coli, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella are
gram-negative.
8. Which of the following is a gram-negative bacterium?
A) Staphylococcus aureus
B) Streptococcus pyogenes
C) Escherichia coli
D) Clostridium difficile
Answer: C
