Core Principles & Definitions
questions with answers newest edition
(Q1–Q15)
1. What is the primary purpose of Clean Needle Technique (CNT) in acupuncture?
Answer: To reduce the risk of spreading infection from patient to patient, from patient to
practitioner, or from practitioner to patient .
2. What is the difference between clean technique and sterile technique?
Answer: Clean technique (medical asepsis) reduces the number of microorganisms and
prevents their spread. Sterile technique (surgical asepsis) eliminates all microorganisms,
including spores .
3. What is the single most important intervention for preventing the spread of infection?
Answer: Hand hygiene .
4. Define "clean field" in the context of acupuncture.
Answer: A section of a work surface, including the patient's skin around the targeted
acupoint, prepared to manage equipment in a way that protects the sterility of the needles .
5. True or False: A clean field can only be created using a clean paper towel.
Answer: False. Various clean barriers can be used, including cloth drapes or dedicated
treatment trays .
6. Define sterilization.
Answer: The process of destroying ALL microbial life, including viruses, via sterilants or
sterilizing methods .
7. Define disinfection.
Answer: A process that reduces the number of microbes on inanimate objects. Disinfected
objects are considered "clean" .
8. What are antiseptics used for?
Answer: Chemicals used to reduce microbes on living tissue (used on patients and
practitioners) .
9. What is the purpose of standard precautions?
Answer: A group of infection prevention practices that apply to ALL patients, regardless of
suspected or confirmed infection status .
10. True or False: Standard precautions require a sterile gown for all patient contact.
Answer: False. Clean gowns are used based on anticipated exposure; sterile gowns are not
required for all contact .
, 11. What is a susceptible host?
Answer: A person at risk for infection due to factors such as age, underlying illness,
weakened immune system, or invasive devices .
12. What are healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
Answer: Infections acquired during the delivery of healthcare .
13. What is the difference between disinfection and cleaning?
Answer: Cleaning physically removes visible dirt and organic matter but does not necessarily
kill microorganisms. Disinfection eliminates most pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate
objects .
14. What is an autogenous infection?
Answer: An infection created when pathogens already present in a person are moved into
the body or to another location within the body where they can cause infection (e.g.,
impetigo) .
15. True or False: Severe adverse events from acupuncture needling are very rare.
Answer: True .
Section 2: Hand Hygiene (Q16–Q30)
16. What is the minimum duration for effective handwashing with soap and water in the
CNT context?
Answer: 40–60 seconds (or 10–15 seconds according to some CNT manuals) .
17. When hands are not visibly soiled, what is the appropriate hand hygiene method?
Answer: Alcohol-based hand rub .
18. When must soap and water be used instead of alcohol-based hand rub?
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled .
19. What is the minimum alcohol concentration for hand sanitizer according to CNT?
Answer: Minimum 60% .
20. Where should hands be positioned relative to elbows during handwashing?
Answer: Hands should be lower than elbows (to allow water to flow from clean to less clean
areas) .
21. How should you turn off the faucet after washing hands to prevent contamination?
Answer: Use a paper towel .
22. What are the "5 Moments for Hand Hygiene"?
Answer: (1) Before touching a patient, (2) before a clean/aseptic procedure, (3) after body
fluid exposure risk, (4) after touching a patient, (5) after touching patient surroundings .
questions with answers newest edition
(Q1–Q15)
1. What is the primary purpose of Clean Needle Technique (CNT) in acupuncture?
Answer: To reduce the risk of spreading infection from patient to patient, from patient to
practitioner, or from practitioner to patient .
2. What is the difference between clean technique and sterile technique?
Answer: Clean technique (medical asepsis) reduces the number of microorganisms and
prevents their spread. Sterile technique (surgical asepsis) eliminates all microorganisms,
including spores .
3. What is the single most important intervention for preventing the spread of infection?
Answer: Hand hygiene .
4. Define "clean field" in the context of acupuncture.
Answer: A section of a work surface, including the patient's skin around the targeted
acupoint, prepared to manage equipment in a way that protects the sterility of the needles .
5. True or False: A clean field can only be created using a clean paper towel.
Answer: False. Various clean barriers can be used, including cloth drapes or dedicated
treatment trays .
6. Define sterilization.
Answer: The process of destroying ALL microbial life, including viruses, via sterilants or
sterilizing methods .
7. Define disinfection.
Answer: A process that reduces the number of microbes on inanimate objects. Disinfected
objects are considered "clean" .
8. What are antiseptics used for?
Answer: Chemicals used to reduce microbes on living tissue (used on patients and
practitioners) .
9. What is the purpose of standard precautions?
Answer: A group of infection prevention practices that apply to ALL patients, regardless of
suspected or confirmed infection status .
10. True or False: Standard precautions require a sterile gown for all patient contact.
Answer: False. Clean gowns are used based on anticipated exposure; sterile gowns are not
required for all contact .
, 11. What is a susceptible host?
Answer: A person at risk for infection due to factors such as age, underlying illness,
weakened immune system, or invasive devices .
12. What are healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
Answer: Infections acquired during the delivery of healthcare .
13. What is the difference between disinfection and cleaning?
Answer: Cleaning physically removes visible dirt and organic matter but does not necessarily
kill microorganisms. Disinfection eliminates most pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate
objects .
14. What is an autogenous infection?
Answer: An infection created when pathogens already present in a person are moved into
the body or to another location within the body where they can cause infection (e.g.,
impetigo) .
15. True or False: Severe adverse events from acupuncture needling are very rare.
Answer: True .
Section 2: Hand Hygiene (Q16–Q30)
16. What is the minimum duration for effective handwashing with soap and water in the
CNT context?
Answer: 40–60 seconds (or 10–15 seconds according to some CNT manuals) .
17. When hands are not visibly soiled, what is the appropriate hand hygiene method?
Answer: Alcohol-based hand rub .
18. When must soap and water be used instead of alcohol-based hand rub?
Answer: When hands are visibly soiled .
19. What is the minimum alcohol concentration for hand sanitizer according to CNT?
Answer: Minimum 60% .
20. Where should hands be positioned relative to elbows during handwashing?
Answer: Hands should be lower than elbows (to allow water to flow from clean to less clean
areas) .
21. How should you turn off the faucet after washing hands to prevent contamination?
Answer: Use a paper towel .
22. What are the "5 Moments for Hand Hygiene"?
Answer: (1) Before touching a patient, (2) before a clean/aseptic procedure, (3) after body
fluid exposure risk, (4) after touching a patient, (5) after touching patient surroundings .
