Chapter 07: Asepsis and Infection Control
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which is true regarding surgical asepsis?
a. It inhibits growth of pathogenic organisms.
b. It is known as a cleaning technique.
c. It includes hand hygiene.
d. It is known as a sterile technique.
ANS: D
Surgical asepsis is known as a sterile technique.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 118 OBJ: 1
TOP: Infection KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. What action exemplifies a nurse practicing medical asepsis in performing daily care?
a. Lifting a sterile swab from a sterile field
b. Using disposable sterile gowns
c. Washing hands for 5 minutes between patients
d. Keeping bed linens off the floor
ANS: D
Keeping the bed linens off the floor is an example of medical asepsis; all other options are
examples of surgical asepsis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 123 OBJ: 1 | 2
TOP: Infection KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. What bacteria can lie dormant when conditions for growth are not favorable?
a. Residue
b. Capsules
c. Spores
d. Flagella
ANS: C
Spore formation occurs when conditions are unfavorable, causing the bacteria to take a
dormant form.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 119 OBJ: 2 | 4
TOP: Bacteria KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A patient with a respiratory infection reports that he is not yet on an antibiotic. The nurse
explains that the health care provider is waiting on the results of the culture and sensitivity.
What does this test determine?
a. What media the bacteria requires to grow
b. How fast the bacteria grow
c. Which antibiotics stop bacterial growth
, d. When the bacteria colonize
ANS: C
Sensitivity tests are done to determine which antibiotics will stop growth.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 119 OBJ: 6
TOP: Laboratory tests KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. What bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism?
a. Staphylococcus
b. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
c. Haemophilus influenzae
d. Streptococcus
ANS: D
The Streptococcus bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 137 OBJ: 3
TOP: Bacteria KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
6. What additional complication does a disease caused by a virus have compared to a disease
caused by bacteria?
a. Multiplies rapidly.
b. Returns frequently.
c. Is not killed by antibiotics.
d. Is unable to be cultured.
ANS: C
Antibiotics do not alter the course of a disease caused by a virus.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 121 OBJ: 3
TOP: Virus KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. What should the nurse be diligent in to provide a safe environment for the patient?
a. Keeping a light on at night to prevent falls
b. Hand hygiene between patient contacts
c. Regulating the temperature to avoid drafts
d. Changing the bed linen to diminish microorganisms
ANS: B
One of the most important actions is hand hygiene before caring for another patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 122 OBJ: 5 | 8 | 9
TOP: Safe environment KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
8. What does the nurse describe when giving an example of a fomite vehicle?
a. Rabid dog
b. Person with AIDS
c. Contaminated stethoscope
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which is true regarding surgical asepsis?
a. It inhibits growth of pathogenic organisms.
b. It is known as a cleaning technique.
c. It includes hand hygiene.
d. It is known as a sterile technique.
ANS: D
Surgical asepsis is known as a sterile technique.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 118 OBJ: 1
TOP: Infection KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. What action exemplifies a nurse practicing medical asepsis in performing daily care?
a. Lifting a sterile swab from a sterile field
b. Using disposable sterile gowns
c. Washing hands for 5 minutes between patients
d. Keeping bed linens off the floor
ANS: D
Keeping the bed linens off the floor is an example of medical asepsis; all other options are
examples of surgical asepsis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 123 OBJ: 1 | 2
TOP: Infection KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. What bacteria can lie dormant when conditions for growth are not favorable?
a. Residue
b. Capsules
c. Spores
d. Flagella
ANS: C
Spore formation occurs when conditions are unfavorable, causing the bacteria to take a
dormant form.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 119 OBJ: 2 | 4
TOP: Bacteria KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A patient with a respiratory infection reports that he is not yet on an antibiotic. The nurse
explains that the health care provider is waiting on the results of the culture and sensitivity.
What does this test determine?
a. What media the bacteria requires to grow
b. How fast the bacteria grow
c. Which antibiotics stop bacterial growth
, d. When the bacteria colonize
ANS: C
Sensitivity tests are done to determine which antibiotics will stop growth.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 119 OBJ: 6
TOP: Laboratory tests KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. What bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism?
a. Staphylococcus
b. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
c. Haemophilus influenzae
d. Streptococcus
ANS: D
The Streptococcus bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 137 OBJ: 3
TOP: Bacteria KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
6. What additional complication does a disease caused by a virus have compared to a disease
caused by bacteria?
a. Multiplies rapidly.
b. Returns frequently.
c. Is not killed by antibiotics.
d. Is unable to be cultured.
ANS: C
Antibiotics do not alter the course of a disease caused by a virus.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 121 OBJ: 3
TOP: Virus KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. What should the nurse be diligent in to provide a safe environment for the patient?
a. Keeping a light on at night to prevent falls
b. Hand hygiene between patient contacts
c. Regulating the temperature to avoid drafts
d. Changing the bed linen to diminish microorganisms
ANS: B
One of the most important actions is hand hygiene before caring for another patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 122 OBJ: 5 | 8 | 9
TOP: Safe environment KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
8. What does the nurse describe when giving an example of a fomite vehicle?
a. Rabid dog
b. Person with AIDS
c. Contaminated stethoscope
