NYS(WRITTEN) INFECTION CONTROL EXAM 300
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY
GRADED A+
The NYS Infection Control Exam is a mandated 4-contact-hour training for
licensed healthcare professionals in New York, required every four years
under Education Law Section 6505-b and Public Health Law Section 239. The
computer-based multiple-choice exam tests knowledge of the seven core
elements: professional responsibility, disease transmission modes, engineering
and work practice controls, barriers and PPE, safe environment practices,
occupational health, and sepsis awareness. The exam covers bloodborne
pathogens, HIV confidentiality, CRE, and aseptic technique. Topics also
include hand hygiene, sterilization, disinfection, and safe injection practices.
Professionals must pass to fulfill licensure requirements and avoid charges of
unprofessional conduct.
1. All licensed healthcare professionals in New York State must complete training
on infection control and barrier precautions every how many years?
A) Every two years
B) Every three years
C) Every four years
D) Every five years
Answer: C
Rationale: Under Section 6505-b of the Education Law and Section 239 of the
Public Health Law, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, and other
licensed professionals must complete this training every four years, with the initial
requirement established by Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992 .
2. In October 2017, which additional training requirement was added to the NYS-
mandated infection control coursework?
A) HIV confidentiality
B) Bloodborne pathogens
C) Sepsis awareness
D) Antibiotic stewardship
,Answer: C
Rationale: Governor Cuomo signed legislation in October 2017 requiring sepsis
awareness and education to be incorporated into the infection control training
curriculum. This addition was codified to address the high mortality rates
associated with sepsis .
3. A healthcare worker is planning to provide care to a patient who has active
tuberculosis. What type of respiratory protection should the worker plan to wear?
A) A standard surgical mask
B) An N95 filter respirator
C) A face shield
D) A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) mask
Answer: B
Rationale: An N95 filter respirator provides the necessary level of respiratory
protection when entering the room of a patient with active tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring this level of
filtration .
4. Non-sterile gloves may be used for which of the following procedures?
A) Surgical procedures
B) Gastric tube feedings
C) Inserting central lines
D) Wound debridement
Answer: B
Rationale: Non-sterile gloves are appropriate for procedures that do not require
sterile technique, such as gastric tube feedings. Procedures involving sterile areas
or sterile tissue require sterile gloves .
5. According to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000, employers are
required to do which of the following?
A) Provide all employees with hepatitis B vaccination
B) Maintain a log of sharps injuries
C) Use only safety-engineered devices
D) Report all needlestick injuries to OSHA immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act requires employers to
maintain a log of sharps injuries. This log is used to track and analyze injuries to
improve prevention efforts. The act also requires the use of safety-engineered
devices where feasible .
,6. According to New York State law, failure to utilize infection control procedures
is considered what?
A) A civil violation
B) Unprofessional conduct
C) A criminal offense
D) A facility violation only
Answer: B
Rationale: Failure to utilize infection control procedures is considered
unprofessional conduct under NYS law. This may subject the licensee to charges
and disciplinary action from the Office of the Professions .
7. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used when changing a
dressing for a patient who has a three-day-old clean surgical incision?
A) Gloves only
B) Gloves and gown
C) Gloves, gown, and mask
D) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Answer: A
Rationale: For a clean surgical incision that is three days old, gloves are the only
required PPE. This is because the wound is not expected to produce significant
drainage or splashing, and standard precautions with gloves are sufficient to
protect the healthcare worker .
8. An organism described as highly virulent has which of these characteristics?
A) Requires a large dose to cause infection
B) Exposure to a small amount of organism can cause infection
C) Causes infection only in immunocompromised hosts
D) Is easily killed by disinfectants
Answer: B
Rationale: Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of an organism. A highly
virulent organism can cause infection with exposure to a small amount of the
organism. High virulence means the organism is more capable of causing disease .
9. A healthcare employee in a community hospital is found to be infected with
HIV. According to New York State law, the hospital's evaluation of the employee's
ability to continue working must include consultation with experts including an
infectious disease specialist, a representative from the employee's practice area,
and whom?
A) The hospital administrator
B) The employee's personal physician
, C) The county health department
D) A medical ethics committee
Answer: B
Rationale: The evaluation must include consultation with the employee's personal
physician, along with an infectious disease specialist and a representative from the
employee's practice area. This ensures a comprehensive assessment of the
employee's ability to safely perform their duties .
10. Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, while disinfection is best
defined as:
A) A process that requires extended periods of time to clean inanimate objects
B) A process used on inanimate objects to eliminate most microbes excepting
bacterial spores
C) A process that can be used to clean the hospital environment but not patient-
care equipment
D) A process that can be accomplished safely only if wearing PPE
Answer: B
Rationale: Disinfection eliminates many or all microorganisms except bacterial
spores on inanimate objects. Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life
including spores. Disinfection is used for semi-critical and non-critical items .
11. Which of the following is an engineering control that would assist in
preventing the transmission of tuberculosis?
A) Hand hygiene
B) A negative pressure room
C) Not recapping needles
D) Using personal protective equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: A negative pressure room is an engineering control that prevents
airborne droplet nuclei from escaping the room and infecting others. Engineering
controls are physical controls that isolate or remove hazards, such as airborne
infection isolation rooms .
12. Which of the following is a work practice control that should be implemented
to protect patients and healthcare workers?
A) Wearing gloves
B) A negative pressure room
C) Not recapping needles
D) Using an N95 respirator
Answer: C
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE ALREADY
GRADED A+
The NYS Infection Control Exam is a mandated 4-contact-hour training for
licensed healthcare professionals in New York, required every four years
under Education Law Section 6505-b and Public Health Law Section 239. The
computer-based multiple-choice exam tests knowledge of the seven core
elements: professional responsibility, disease transmission modes, engineering
and work practice controls, barriers and PPE, safe environment practices,
occupational health, and sepsis awareness. The exam covers bloodborne
pathogens, HIV confidentiality, CRE, and aseptic technique. Topics also
include hand hygiene, sterilization, disinfection, and safe injection practices.
Professionals must pass to fulfill licensure requirements and avoid charges of
unprofessional conduct.
1. All licensed healthcare professionals in New York State must complete training
on infection control and barrier precautions every how many years?
A) Every two years
B) Every three years
C) Every four years
D) Every five years
Answer: C
Rationale: Under Section 6505-b of the Education Law and Section 239 of the
Public Health Law, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, and other
licensed professionals must complete this training every four years, with the initial
requirement established by Chapter 786 of the Laws of 1992 .
2. In October 2017, which additional training requirement was added to the NYS-
mandated infection control coursework?
A) HIV confidentiality
B) Bloodborne pathogens
C) Sepsis awareness
D) Antibiotic stewardship
,Answer: C
Rationale: Governor Cuomo signed legislation in October 2017 requiring sepsis
awareness and education to be incorporated into the infection control training
curriculum. This addition was codified to address the high mortality rates
associated with sepsis .
3. A healthcare worker is planning to provide care to a patient who has active
tuberculosis. What type of respiratory protection should the worker plan to wear?
A) A standard surgical mask
B) An N95 filter respirator
C) A face shield
D) A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) mask
Answer: B
Rationale: An N95 filter respirator provides the necessary level of respiratory
protection when entering the room of a patient with active tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring this level of
filtration .
4. Non-sterile gloves may be used for which of the following procedures?
A) Surgical procedures
B) Gastric tube feedings
C) Inserting central lines
D) Wound debridement
Answer: B
Rationale: Non-sterile gloves are appropriate for procedures that do not require
sterile technique, such as gastric tube feedings. Procedures involving sterile areas
or sterile tissue require sterile gloves .
5. According to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000, employers are
required to do which of the following?
A) Provide all employees with hepatitis B vaccination
B) Maintain a log of sharps injuries
C) Use only safety-engineered devices
D) Report all needlestick injuries to OSHA immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act requires employers to
maintain a log of sharps injuries. This log is used to track and analyze injuries to
improve prevention efforts. The act also requires the use of safety-engineered
devices where feasible .
,6. According to New York State law, failure to utilize infection control procedures
is considered what?
A) A civil violation
B) Unprofessional conduct
C) A criminal offense
D) A facility violation only
Answer: B
Rationale: Failure to utilize infection control procedures is considered
unprofessional conduct under NYS law. This may subject the licensee to charges
and disciplinary action from the Office of the Professions .
7. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used when changing a
dressing for a patient who has a three-day-old clean surgical incision?
A) Gloves only
B) Gloves and gown
C) Gloves, gown, and mask
D) Gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
Answer: A
Rationale: For a clean surgical incision that is three days old, gloves are the only
required PPE. This is because the wound is not expected to produce significant
drainage or splashing, and standard precautions with gloves are sufficient to
protect the healthcare worker .
8. An organism described as highly virulent has which of these characteristics?
A) Requires a large dose to cause infection
B) Exposure to a small amount of organism can cause infection
C) Causes infection only in immunocompromised hosts
D) Is easily killed by disinfectants
Answer: B
Rationale: Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of an organism. A highly
virulent organism can cause infection with exposure to a small amount of the
organism. High virulence means the organism is more capable of causing disease .
9. A healthcare employee in a community hospital is found to be infected with
HIV. According to New York State law, the hospital's evaluation of the employee's
ability to continue working must include consultation with experts including an
infectious disease specialist, a representative from the employee's practice area,
and whom?
A) The hospital administrator
B) The employee's personal physician
, C) The county health department
D) A medical ethics committee
Answer: B
Rationale: The evaluation must include consultation with the employee's personal
physician, along with an infectious disease specialist and a representative from the
employee's practice area. This ensures a comprehensive assessment of the
employee's ability to safely perform their duties .
10. Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life, while disinfection is best
defined as:
A) A process that requires extended periods of time to clean inanimate objects
B) A process used on inanimate objects to eliminate most microbes excepting
bacterial spores
C) A process that can be used to clean the hospital environment but not patient-
care equipment
D) A process that can be accomplished safely only if wearing PPE
Answer: B
Rationale: Disinfection eliminates many or all microorganisms except bacterial
spores on inanimate objects. Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life
including spores. Disinfection is used for semi-critical and non-critical items .
11. Which of the following is an engineering control that would assist in
preventing the transmission of tuberculosis?
A) Hand hygiene
B) A negative pressure room
C) Not recapping needles
D) Using personal protective equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: A negative pressure room is an engineering control that prevents
airborne droplet nuclei from escaping the room and infecting others. Engineering
controls are physical controls that isolate or remove hazards, such as airborne
infection isolation rooms .
12. Which of the following is a work practice control that should be implemented
to protect patients and healthcare workers?
A) Wearing gloves
B) A negative pressure room
C) Not recapping needles
D) Using an N95 respirator
Answer: C
