ATI Medical-Surgical | Infection, Sepsis & Isolation Precautions
Practice Pack 2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene method is mandatory after providing care?
A. Soap and water
B. Antiseptic hand wipes
C. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
D. Hydrogen peroxide rinse
Answer: A
Rationale: C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers. Mechanical friction with
soap and water is required to remove spores from the hands.
2. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when entering the
room of a client on Airborne Precautions for Tuberculosis?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
C. N95 respirator
D. Double gloves
Answer: C
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 or higher-level respirator to filter out
small droplets that remain suspended in the air.
,3. In the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 1-hour bundle, which of the following is the
first priority intervention for a client with suspected sepsis?
A. Administering broad-spectrum antibiotics
B. Measuring the serum lactate level
C. Starting vasopressors
D. Providing a 500 mL fluid bolus
Answer: B
Rationale: Measuring lactate levels is a priority to identify tissue hypoperfusion early,
followed by blood cultures then antibiotics.
4. A client is diagnosed with Neisseria meningitidis. What type of isolation
precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Meningococcal meningitis is spread through large-particle droplets and
requires Droplet Precautions.
5. A nurse is preparing to enter a room to perform tracheostomy suctioning on a
client with MRSA in the sputum. Which PPE is most appropriate?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and goggles
C. Gloves and gown
D. N95 respirator and gloves
Answer: B
, Rationale: MRSA in a wound or sputum requires Contact Precautions (gown/gloves), but
suctioning creates splashes, necessitating a mask and eye protection (Standard Precautions
+ Contact).
6. Which of the following is a Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
criterion?
A. Heart rate of 85 beats/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min
C. WBC count of 9,000/mm3
D. Temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F)
Answer: D
Rationale: SIRS criteria include Temp >38C or <36C, HR >90, RR >20 or PaCO2 <32, and
WBC >12,000 or <4,000 or >10% bands.
7. When removing PPE, which item should be removed first according to
standard CDC guidelines?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
C. Mask
D. Goggles
Answer: B
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated item and should be removed first
to prevent cross-contamination during the removal of other PPE.
Practice Pack 2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which hand
hygiene method is mandatory after providing care?
A. Soap and water
B. Antiseptic hand wipes
C. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
D. Hydrogen peroxide rinse
Answer: A
Rationale: C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers. Mechanical friction with
soap and water is required to remove spores from the hands.
2. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when entering the
room of a client on Airborne Precautions for Tuberculosis?
A. Surgical mask
B. Face shield
C. N95 respirator
D. Double gloves
Answer: C
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 or higher-level respirator to filter out
small droplets that remain suspended in the air.
,3. In the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 1-hour bundle, which of the following is the
first priority intervention for a client with suspected sepsis?
A. Administering broad-spectrum antibiotics
B. Measuring the serum lactate level
C. Starting vasopressors
D. Providing a 500 mL fluid bolus
Answer: B
Rationale: Measuring lactate levels is a priority to identify tissue hypoperfusion early,
followed by blood cultures then antibiotics.
4. A client is diagnosed with Neisseria meningitidis. What type of isolation
precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Contact Precautions
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Airborne Precautions
D. Standard Precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Meningococcal meningitis is spread through large-particle droplets and
requires Droplet Precautions.
5. A nurse is preparing to enter a room to perform tracheostomy suctioning on a
client with MRSA in the sputum. Which PPE is most appropriate?
A. Gloves only
B. Gloves, gown, mask, and goggles
C. Gloves and gown
D. N95 respirator and gloves
Answer: B
, Rationale: MRSA in a wound or sputum requires Contact Precautions (gown/gloves), but
suctioning creates splashes, necessitating a mask and eye protection (Standard Precautions
+ Contact).
6. Which of the following is a Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
criterion?
A. Heart rate of 85 beats/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min
C. WBC count of 9,000/mm3
D. Temperature of 38.5 C (101.3 F)
Answer: D
Rationale: SIRS criteria include Temp >38C or <36C, HR >90, RR >20 or PaCO2 <32, and
WBC >12,000 or <4,000 or >10% bands.
7. When removing PPE, which item should be removed first according to
standard CDC guidelines?
A. Gown
B. Gloves
C. Mask
D. Goggles
Answer: B
Rationale: Gloves are considered the most contaminated item and should be removed first
to prevent cross-contamination during the removal of other PPE.
