Page 1 of 46
NURS 3209 INFECTION CONTROL EXAM PRACTICE
2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Infection Control Exam Practice with a focused study
resource designed to reinforce essential principles of infection prevention and nursing
care. It supports review of hand hygiene, medical and surgical asepsis, standard and
transmission-based precautions, personal protective equipment, healthcare-
associated infections, and prevention of pathogen transmission. Use the practice
material to strengthen clinical judgment, improve recognition of infection risks, and
identify areas that may require additional review before the exam. This resource is
best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare learners preparing for
infection control and patient-care assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF INFECTION CONTROL
1. Which of the following is the single most important intervention for
preventing the spread of infection?
A) Wearing gloves
B) Hand hygiene
C) Wearing a mask
D) Using sterile equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention for
preventing the spread of infection. Healthcare workers should perform
hand hygiene before and after patient contact, before aseptic tasks, and
after contact with body fluids. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of
infection prevention.
, Page 2 of 46
2. The chain of infection consists of which of the following components?
A) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, susceptible host
B) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of entry, mode of transmission, portal of
exit, susceptible host
C) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, immune host
D) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, resistant host
Answer: A
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six links: Infectious agent
(pathogen), Reservoir (where the pathogen lives), Portal of exit (how the
pathogen leaves the reservoir), Mode of transmission (how the pathogen
is transmitted), Portal of entry (how the pathogen enters the susceptible
host), and Susceptible host (a person who is vulnerable to infection).
Breaking any link in the chain prevents infection.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection. Which of the
following is the most common mode of transmission for healthcare-
associated infections?
A) Airborne transmission
B) Contact transmission (direct and indirect)
C) Droplet transmission
D) Vehicle transmission
Answer: B
Rationale: Contact transmission is the most common mode of
transmission for healthcare-associated infections. It includes direct
contact (patient-to-patient) and indirect contact (via contaminated
, Page 3 of 46
objects or healthcare workers' hands). Hand hygiene is the most
important intervention to prevent contact transmission.
4. A patient is diagnosed with a healthcare-associated infection (HAI).
Which of the following is the most common type of HAI?
A) Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
B) Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
C) Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
D) Surgical site infection (SSI)
Answer: B
Rationale: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the
most common type of healthcare-associated infection. They are often
preventable through appropriate catheter use, sterile insertion, and early
removal. CAUTIs are a focus of many infection prevention programs.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is immunocompromised. Which of
the following is the most important intervention to prevent infection?
A) Place the patient in a private room
B) Use strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique
C) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
D) Restrict visitors
Answer: B
Rationale: Strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique are the most
important interventions to prevent infection in immunocompromised
patients. These patients are at increased risk for infection due to
decreased immune function. Private rooms and visitor restrictions may
also be used, but hand hygiene is the priority.
, Page 4 of 46
6. A patient is suspected of having a contagious infection. The nurse
should implement which type of precautions?
A) Standard precautions only
B) Transmission-based precautions (in addition to standard precautions)
C) Contact precautions only
D) Airborne precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transmission-based precautions are used in addition to
standard precautions for patients with known or suspected infections
that are spread through contact, droplet, or airborne routes. Standard
precautions are used for all patients.
7. Which of the following is a correct statement about standard
precautions?
A) Standard precautions are used only for patients with known infections
B) Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of diagnosis
C) Standard precautions include only hand hygiene
D) Standard precautions are used only in intensive care units
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of their
diagnosis. They include hand hygiene, use of personal protective
equipment (PPE) when exposure to body fluids is anticipated, and safe
handling of sharps and contaminated equipment. They are used in all
healthcare settings.
8. The nurse is preparing to perform a sterile procedure. Which of the
following is a correct statement about sterile technique?
A) Sterile technique is used for all patient care activities
NURS 3209 INFECTION CONTROL EXAM PRACTICE
2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Infection Control Exam Practice with a focused study
resource designed to reinforce essential principles of infection prevention and nursing
care. It supports review of hand hygiene, medical and surgical asepsis, standard and
transmission-based precautions, personal protective equipment, healthcare-
associated infections, and prevention of pathogen transmission. Use the practice
material to strengthen clinical judgment, improve recognition of infection risks, and
identify areas that may require additional review before the exam. This resource is
best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare learners preparing for
infection control and patient-care assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF INFECTION CONTROL
1. Which of the following is the single most important intervention for
preventing the spread of infection?
A) Wearing gloves
B) Hand hygiene
C) Wearing a mask
D) Using sterile equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most important intervention for
preventing the spread of infection. Healthcare workers should perform
hand hygiene before and after patient contact, before aseptic tasks, and
after contact with body fluids. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of
infection prevention.
, Page 2 of 46
2. The chain of infection consists of which of the following components?
A) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, susceptible host
B) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of entry, mode of transmission, portal of
exit, susceptible host
C) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, immune host
D) Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of
entry, resistant host
Answer: A
Rationale: The chain of infection consists of six links: Infectious agent
(pathogen), Reservoir (where the pathogen lives), Portal of exit (how the
pathogen leaves the reservoir), Mode of transmission (how the pathogen
is transmitted), Portal of entry (how the pathogen enters the susceptible
host), and Susceptible host (a person who is vulnerable to infection).
Breaking any link in the chain prevents infection.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection. Which of the
following is the most common mode of transmission for healthcare-
associated infections?
A) Airborne transmission
B) Contact transmission (direct and indirect)
C) Droplet transmission
D) Vehicle transmission
Answer: B
Rationale: Contact transmission is the most common mode of
transmission for healthcare-associated infections. It includes direct
contact (patient-to-patient) and indirect contact (via contaminated
, Page 3 of 46
objects or healthcare workers' hands). Hand hygiene is the most
important intervention to prevent contact transmission.
4. A patient is diagnosed with a healthcare-associated infection (HAI).
Which of the following is the most common type of HAI?
A) Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
B) Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
C) Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
D) Surgical site infection (SSI)
Answer: B
Rationale: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the
most common type of healthcare-associated infection. They are often
preventable through appropriate catheter use, sterile insertion, and early
removal. CAUTIs are a focus of many infection prevention programs.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is immunocompromised. Which of
the following is the most important intervention to prevent infection?
A) Place the patient in a private room
B) Use strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique
C) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
D) Restrict visitors
Answer: B
Rationale: Strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique are the most
important interventions to prevent infection in immunocompromised
patients. These patients are at increased risk for infection due to
decreased immune function. Private rooms and visitor restrictions may
also be used, but hand hygiene is the priority.
, Page 4 of 46
6. A patient is suspected of having a contagious infection. The nurse
should implement which type of precautions?
A) Standard precautions only
B) Transmission-based precautions (in addition to standard precautions)
C) Contact precautions only
D) Airborne precautions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transmission-based precautions are used in addition to
standard precautions for patients with known or suspected infections
that are spread through contact, droplet, or airborne routes. Standard
precautions are used for all patients.
7. Which of the following is a correct statement about standard
precautions?
A) Standard precautions are used only for patients with known infections
B) Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of diagnosis
C) Standard precautions include only hand hygiene
D) Standard precautions are used only in intensive care units
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of their
diagnosis. They include hand hygiene, use of personal protective
equipment (PPE) when exposure to body fluids is anticipated, and safe
handling of sharps and contaminated equipment. They are used in all
healthcare settings.
8. The nurse is preparing to perform a sterile procedure. Which of the
following is a correct statement about sterile technique?
A) Sterile technique is used for all patient care activities
