NURS 3209 INFECTION CONTROL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
139 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply evidence-based infection prevention guidelines to diverse clinical situations
2 Analyze and interpret data to identify and control outbreaks
3 Evaluate the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy and stewardship interventions
4 Integrate knowledge of pathogens, host factors, and environmental controls to prevent
healthcare-associated infections
5 NURS 3209 Infection Control Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers
6 Verified Answers
7 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
8 Foundations of Infection Control and Prevention
9 Applied Infection Control and Prevention
10 Advanced Infection Control and Prevention
11 Infection Control and Prevention Review
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A patient with suspected tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Which
combination of controls best represents the hierarchy of controls in infection
prevention?
A. Administrative controls, environmental controls, and respiratory protection CORRECT
B. Source control, hand hygiene, and personal protective equipment
C. Isolation precautions, antimicrobial therapy, and vaccination
D. Surveillance, standard precautions, and disinfection
RATIONALE: The hierarchy of controls for TB includes administrative (e.g., screening),
environmental (e.g., negative pressure), and respiratory protection (N95). The other options list
interventions but do not reflect the hierarchical framework.
Q2 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A hospital is investigating a cluster of surgical site infections. Which statistical
method is most appropriate to determine if the infection rate exceeds the
baseline?
A. Pareto chart
B. Statistical process control (SPC) chart CORRECT
C. Scatter plot
D. Root cause analysis
RATIONALE: SPC charts (e.g., p-charts) detect special-cause variation in infection rates over
time. Pareto charts prioritize issues, scatter plots show correlation, and root cause analysis is for
single-event investigation, not rate monitoring.
Page 2
,Q3 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a breach in the chain of infection
at the 'portal of entry' link?
A. A healthcare worker fails to perform hand hygiene after glove removal.
B. An improperly sterilized surgical instrument is used on a patient.
C. A patient with a central line develops a bloodstream infection due to hub contamination.
CORRECT
D. A visitor with a respiratory infection enters a patient's room.
RATIONALE: The central line hub serves as a portal of entry for pathogens. Hand hygiene and
sterilization address other links (transmission and reservoir), and the visitor is a source/reservoir,
not a portal of entry.
Q4 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which agent is most appropriate for high-level disinfection of a flexible
bronchoscope?
A. 70% isopropyl alcohol
B. Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) CORRECT
C. Quaternary ammonium compound
D. Hydrogen peroxide 3%
RATIONALE: OPA is a high-level disinfectant (HLD) suitable for semi-critical items like
bronchoscopes. Alcohol and quaternary ammonium are not HLDs; 3% hydrogen peroxide is not
sporicidal and not approved for HLD of such devices.
Page 3
, Q5 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile infection. Which hand
hygiene agent is most appropriate after glove removal?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub
B. Non-antimicrobial soap and water CORRECT
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) hand wash
D. Triclosan-based soap
RATIONALE: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol and CHG; mechanical friction with soap
and water is recommended. Triclosan is no longer recommended in healthcare, and
alcohol-based rubs do not remove spores.
Q6 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which antimicrobial stewardship intervention has the highest impact on reducing
Clostridioides difficile infection rates in hospitalized adults?
A. Restricting fluoroquinolone use CORRECT
B. Mandatory infectious disease consultation for all antibiotic orders
C. Prolonging antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical procedures
D. Using a broad-spectrum agent initially to cover all pathogens
RATIONALE: Fluoroquinolones are high-risk for CDI; restriction reduces incidence. Mandatory
consults are not universally feasible and may not be as effective. Prolonging prophylaxis and
broad-spectrum use increase CDI risk, not reduce it.
Page 4
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
139 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply evidence-based infection prevention guidelines to diverse clinical situations
2 Analyze and interpret data to identify and control outbreaks
3 Evaluate the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy and stewardship interventions
4 Integrate knowledge of pathogens, host factors, and environmental controls to prevent
healthcare-associated infections
5 NURS 3209 Infection Control Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers
6 Verified Answers
7 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
8 Foundations of Infection Control and Prevention
9 Applied Infection Control and Prevention
10 Advanced Infection Control and Prevention
11 Infection Control and Prevention Review
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A patient with suspected tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Which
combination of controls best represents the hierarchy of controls in infection
prevention?
A. Administrative controls, environmental controls, and respiratory protection CORRECT
B. Source control, hand hygiene, and personal protective equipment
C. Isolation precautions, antimicrobial therapy, and vaccination
D. Surveillance, standard precautions, and disinfection
RATIONALE: The hierarchy of controls for TB includes administrative (e.g., screening),
environmental (e.g., negative pressure), and respiratory protection (N95). The other options list
interventions but do not reflect the hierarchical framework.
Q2 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A hospital is investigating a cluster of surgical site infections. Which statistical
method is most appropriate to determine if the infection rate exceeds the
baseline?
A. Pareto chart
B. Statistical process control (SPC) chart CORRECT
C. Scatter plot
D. Root cause analysis
RATIONALE: SPC charts (e.g., p-charts) detect special-cause variation in infection rates over
time. Pareto charts prioritize issues, scatter plots show correlation, and root cause analysis is for
single-event investigation, not rate monitoring.
Page 2
,Q3 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a breach in the chain of infection
at the 'portal of entry' link?
A. A healthcare worker fails to perform hand hygiene after glove removal.
B. An improperly sterilized surgical instrument is used on a patient.
C. A patient with a central line develops a bloodstream infection due to hub contamination.
CORRECT
D. A visitor with a respiratory infection enters a patient's room.
RATIONALE: The central line hub serves as a portal of entry for pathogens. Hand hygiene and
sterilization address other links (transmission and reservoir), and the visitor is a source/reservoir,
not a portal of entry.
Q4 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which agent is most appropriate for high-level disinfection of a flexible
bronchoscope?
A. 70% isopropyl alcohol
B. Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) CORRECT
C. Quaternary ammonium compound
D. Hydrogen peroxide 3%
RATIONALE: OPA is a high-level disinfectant (HLD) suitable for semi-critical items like
bronchoscopes. Alcohol and quaternary ammonium are not HLDs; 3% hydrogen peroxide is not
sporicidal and not approved for HLD of such devices.
Page 3
, Q5 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile infection. Which hand
hygiene agent is most appropriate after glove removal?
A. Alcohol-based hand rub
B. Non-antimicrobial soap and water CORRECT
C. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) hand wash
D. Triclosan-based soap
RATIONALE: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol and CHG; mechanical friction with soap
and water is recommended. Triclosan is no longer recommended in healthcare, and
alcohol-based rubs do not remove spores.
Q6 APPLY EVIDENCE-BASED INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES TO DIVERSE CLINICAL
SITUATIONS
Which antimicrobial stewardship intervention has the highest impact on reducing
Clostridioides difficile infection rates in hospitalized adults?
A. Restricting fluoroquinolone use CORRECT
B. Mandatory infectious disease consultation for all antibiotic orders
C. Prolonging antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical procedures
D. Using a broad-spectrum agent initially to cover all pathogens
RATIONALE: Fluoroquinolones are high-risk for CDI; restriction reduces incidence. Mandatory
consults are not universally feasible and may not be as effective. Prolonging prophylaxis and
broad-spectrum use increase CDI risk, not reduce it.
Page 4
