IHS FINAL EXAM 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ Non-critical items. Answer: -Items that contact only intact skin or
do not directly touch patients
-Require cleaning and low-level disinfection after use
◉ Sterilization. Answer: Process whereby 100% of germs are killed,
including endospores
◉ Touch Surface. Answer: Any patient-care surface that may come in
direct or indirect contact with hands
◉ Disinfecting. Answer: Process whereby germs are killed
◉ Splash Surface. Answer: Any patient-care surface that may be
potentially hit with bloody, bodily fluids, saliva, or other secretions
◉ Direct Contact Transmission. Answer: Requires close physical
contact between infected individuals and another person
,◉ Droplet Contact Transmission. Answer: Occurs when organisms
are transferred via droplets from an infected person when they
cough, sneeze, or talk
◉ Standard Precautions. Answer: A set of infection control practices
designed to prevent transmission of disease
◉ Vectorborne Transmission. Answer: Occurs via an animal or insect
that can transmit the disease from an infected individual to another
person
◉ Vehicle Transmission. Answer: Occurs when a contaminant is
ingested or there is exposure to contaminated substances via food,
water, blood, or bodily fluids
◉ Indirect Contact Transmission. Answer: Occurs when an infected
person or object touches a surface and the another person touches
that surface
◉ Work Practice Controls. Answer: Written materials that outline
how specific procedures will be performed for purposes of
minimizing the spread of disease
◉ 4 Methods of Disease Transmission. Answer: 1. Contact
2. Vehicle
,3. Airborne
4. Vectorborne
◉ Airborne Transmission. Answer: Occurs when droplets or dust
particles remain suspended in the air for long periods
◉ Cleaning. Answer: Removal of gross contamination without
necessarily involving the process of killing germs
◉ High-level Disinfection. Answer: Process that ensures elimination
of most microorganisms
◉ Semi-critical Items. Answer: -Items that come in contact with non-
intact skin or mucous membranes but do not penetrate them
-Require cleaning and high-level disinfection at a minimum;
sterilization preferred
◉ Critical Instruments. Answer: -Reusable instruments that are
either:
1. Introduced into the bloodstream
2. Non-invasive instruments that come in contact with intact mucous
membranes or bodily substances
3. Non-invasive instruments that can nick skin surfaces
-Require cleaning and then sterilization
, ◉ Anterior. Answer: Toward the front
◉ Posterior. Answer: Toward the back
◉ Lateral. Answer: Toward the side
◉ Medial. Answer: Toward the middle
◉ Inferior. Answer: Below
◉ Superior. Answer: Above
◉ Proximal. Answer: Located close to a reference point
◉ Distal. Answer: Located away from a reference point
◉ Auris Dextra (AD). Answer: Right Ear
◉ Auris Sinistra (AS). Answer: Left Ear
◉ Aures Unitas (AU). Answer: Both Ears
GUIDE WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ Non-critical items. Answer: -Items that contact only intact skin or
do not directly touch patients
-Require cleaning and low-level disinfection after use
◉ Sterilization. Answer: Process whereby 100% of germs are killed,
including endospores
◉ Touch Surface. Answer: Any patient-care surface that may come in
direct or indirect contact with hands
◉ Disinfecting. Answer: Process whereby germs are killed
◉ Splash Surface. Answer: Any patient-care surface that may be
potentially hit with bloody, bodily fluids, saliva, or other secretions
◉ Direct Contact Transmission. Answer: Requires close physical
contact between infected individuals and another person
,◉ Droplet Contact Transmission. Answer: Occurs when organisms
are transferred via droplets from an infected person when they
cough, sneeze, or talk
◉ Standard Precautions. Answer: A set of infection control practices
designed to prevent transmission of disease
◉ Vectorborne Transmission. Answer: Occurs via an animal or insect
that can transmit the disease from an infected individual to another
person
◉ Vehicle Transmission. Answer: Occurs when a contaminant is
ingested or there is exposure to contaminated substances via food,
water, blood, or bodily fluids
◉ Indirect Contact Transmission. Answer: Occurs when an infected
person or object touches a surface and the another person touches
that surface
◉ Work Practice Controls. Answer: Written materials that outline
how specific procedures will be performed for purposes of
minimizing the spread of disease
◉ 4 Methods of Disease Transmission. Answer: 1. Contact
2. Vehicle
,3. Airborne
4. Vectorborne
◉ Airborne Transmission. Answer: Occurs when droplets or dust
particles remain suspended in the air for long periods
◉ Cleaning. Answer: Removal of gross contamination without
necessarily involving the process of killing germs
◉ High-level Disinfection. Answer: Process that ensures elimination
of most microorganisms
◉ Semi-critical Items. Answer: -Items that come in contact with non-
intact skin or mucous membranes but do not penetrate them
-Require cleaning and high-level disinfection at a minimum;
sterilization preferred
◉ Critical Instruments. Answer: -Reusable instruments that are
either:
1. Introduced into the bloodstream
2. Non-invasive instruments that come in contact with intact mucous
membranes or bodily substances
3. Non-invasive instruments that can nick skin surfaces
-Require cleaning and then sterilization
, ◉ Anterior. Answer: Toward the front
◉ Posterior. Answer: Toward the back
◉ Lateral. Answer: Toward the side
◉ Medial. Answer: Toward the middle
◉ Inferior. Answer: Below
◉ Superior. Answer: Above
◉ Proximal. Answer: Located close to a reference point
◉ Distal. Answer: Located away from a reference point
◉ Auris Dextra (AD). Answer: Right Ear
◉ Auris Sinistra (AS). Answer: Left Ear
◉ Aures Unitas (AU). Answer: Both Ears
