Infection Control in Med-Surg 2025/2026
1. Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent
the spread of infections in a healthcare setting?
a) Wearing gloves only when touching blood
b) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
c) Using a mask during all patient interactions
d) Wearing a gown during every procedure
b) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method to
prevent transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings.
2. The primary purpose of standard precautions is to:
a) Protect only immunocompromised patients
b) Prevent transmission of pathogens from recognized infections
c) Reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other
pathogens in all patients
d) Protect healthcare workers only
c) Reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens
in all patients
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients, regardless of
diagnosis, to prevent transmission of infectious agents.
3. Which of the following is considered a droplet-transmitted
infection?
a) Tuberculosis
b) Influenza
c) Hepatitis B
d) Clostridioides difficile
,b) Influenza
Rationale: Droplet transmission occurs through respiratory droplets
that travel short distances, as with influenza.
4. What type of isolation is required for a patient with active
tuberculosis?
a) Contact isolation
b) Droplet isolation
c) Airborne isolation
d) Protective isolation
c) Airborne isolation
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne particles, requiring
a negative pressure room and N95 respirator.
5. When should alcohol-based hand rubs be used instead of soap
and water?
a) After contact with Clostridioides difficile
b) After contact with visibly soiled hands
c) For routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly dirty
d) Before surgical hand scrub
c) For routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly dirty
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs are effective against most pathogens
when hands are not visibly soiled.
6. Which of the following is the correct sequence for donning
personal protective equipment (PPE)?
a) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
b) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
c) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
d) Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
,b) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence minimizes contamination risk when
putting on PPE.
7. Which of the following is considered a high-risk procedure for
generating aerosols?
a) Taking a patient’s blood pressure
b) Suctioning the airway
c) Administering oral medication
d) Performing an ECG
b) Suctioning the airway
Rationale: Procedures that generate aerosols increase the risk of
airborne pathogen transmission.
8. Which pathogen requires the use of contact precautions?
a) Measles
b) MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
c) Influenza
d) HIV
b) MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Rationale: MRSA is transmitted through direct or indirect contact, so
contact precautions are required.
9. The nurse is preparing to remove PPE after caring for a patient in
isolation. Which should be removed first?
a) Gown
b) Gloves
c) Mask
d) Goggles
, b) Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are typically removed first because they are most
likely to be contaminated.
10. Which of the following is true regarding needle-stick
injuries?
a) Only pose a risk for HIV transmission
b) Should be reported immediately and post-exposure protocols
initiated
c) Are not a concern if gloves were worn
d) Can be ignored if the patient appears healthy
b) Should be reported immediately and post-exposure protocols
initiated
Rationale: Prompt reporting and initiation of post-exposure
prophylaxis reduces infection risk.
11. The nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which precaution is required?
a) Airborne
b) Droplet
c) Contact
d) Standard only
c) Contact
Rationale: C. difficile is transmitted via spores on surfaces and
requires contact precautions.
12. Which of the following is an example of a fomite?
a) Sneezing patient
b) Contaminated stethoscope
c) Mosquito
d) Contaminated blood
1. Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent
the spread of infections in a healthcare setting?
a) Wearing gloves only when touching blood
b) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
c) Using a mask during all patient interactions
d) Wearing a gown during every procedure
b) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method to
prevent transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings.
2. The primary purpose of standard precautions is to:
a) Protect only immunocompromised patients
b) Prevent transmission of pathogens from recognized infections
c) Reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other
pathogens in all patients
d) Protect healthcare workers only
c) Reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne and other pathogens
in all patients
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients, regardless of
diagnosis, to prevent transmission of infectious agents.
3. Which of the following is considered a droplet-transmitted
infection?
a) Tuberculosis
b) Influenza
c) Hepatitis B
d) Clostridioides difficile
,b) Influenza
Rationale: Droplet transmission occurs through respiratory droplets
that travel short distances, as with influenza.
4. What type of isolation is required for a patient with active
tuberculosis?
a) Contact isolation
b) Droplet isolation
c) Airborne isolation
d) Protective isolation
c) Airborne isolation
Rationale: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne particles, requiring
a negative pressure room and N95 respirator.
5. When should alcohol-based hand rubs be used instead of soap
and water?
a) After contact with Clostridioides difficile
b) After contact with visibly soiled hands
c) For routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly dirty
d) Before surgical hand scrub
c) For routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly dirty
Rationale: Alcohol-based rubs are effective against most pathogens
when hands are not visibly soiled.
6. Which of the following is the correct sequence for donning
personal protective equipment (PPE)?
a) Gloves, gown, mask, goggles
b) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
c) Mask, gloves, gown, goggles
d) Goggles, gloves, mask, gown
,b) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence minimizes contamination risk when
putting on PPE.
7. Which of the following is considered a high-risk procedure for
generating aerosols?
a) Taking a patient’s blood pressure
b) Suctioning the airway
c) Administering oral medication
d) Performing an ECG
b) Suctioning the airway
Rationale: Procedures that generate aerosols increase the risk of
airborne pathogen transmission.
8. Which pathogen requires the use of contact precautions?
a) Measles
b) MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
c) Influenza
d) HIV
b) MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Rationale: MRSA is transmitted through direct or indirect contact, so
contact precautions are required.
9. The nurse is preparing to remove PPE after caring for a patient in
isolation. Which should be removed first?
a) Gown
b) Gloves
c) Mask
d) Goggles
, b) Gloves
Rationale: Gloves are typically removed first because they are most
likely to be contaminated.
10. Which of the following is true regarding needle-stick
injuries?
a) Only pose a risk for HIV transmission
b) Should be reported immediately and post-exposure protocols
initiated
c) Are not a concern if gloves were worn
d) Can be ignored if the patient appears healthy
b) Should be reported immediately and post-exposure protocols
initiated
Rationale: Prompt reporting and initiation of post-exposure
prophylaxis reduces infection risk.
11. The nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile
infection. Which precaution is required?
a) Airborne
b) Droplet
c) Contact
d) Standard only
c) Contact
Rationale: C. difficile is transmitted via spores on surfaces and
requires contact precautions.
12. Which of the following is an example of a fomite?
a) Sneezing patient
b) Contaminated stethoscope
c) Mosquito
d) Contaminated blood
