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NCCT- infection control Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Which of the following statements by the medical assistant indicates the need for a better
understanding of standard precautions? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The patient should wear a gown, gloves, and
mask to maintain contact-droplet isolation.
Rationale
In a healthcare setting, the staff wears Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), not the patients. The
purpose of following contact-droplet isolation precautions are to contain the patient's environment
and prevent the spread of infection. Since they have contact with multiple patients, medical
professionals must wear proper PPE and perform proper hand hygiene when caring for every
patient. Antimicrobial wipes can be utilized to clean exam rooms between patients. In order to limit
potential for accidental exposure/puncture, Sharps containers should be replaced when 2/3 full.
Which of the following skin disorders are noncommunicable? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ alopecia
Rationale
Alopecia is a noncontagious skin disorder that leads to hair loss or baldness. The cause is largely
unknown, but may be hereditary or a side effect of medication. Impetigo, scabies, and poison ivy
are all highly contagious skin conditions. Impetigo causes red sores on the body, while individuals
with scabies develop a skin rash from mites. Poison ivy is well known for causing an itchy and
sometimes painful rash.
A patient suspected of having which of the following respiratory disorders should be placed in
isolation in the medical office? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Active TB
Rationale
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With Active TB, transmission occurs through inhaling bacteria in microscopic droplets - airborne
precautions should be initiated per protocol. COPD refers to a group of lung diseases that block
airflow and make breathing difficult. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common
conditions that make up COPD. Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi
of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms
of hypersensitivity. Croup refers to an infection of the upper airway, generally in children, which
obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough.
It is appropriate for the medical assistant to use an alcohol-based hand rub as the only method of
hand hygiene after which of the following activities? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ measuring a patient's apical pulse
Rationale
In addition to when visibly soiled, hands should always be washed with an antimicrobial soap and
water before eating and after using a restroom to reduce the incidence of health care environment
related infections.
Which of the following is the most important defensive mechanism against pathogens? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓
intact skin
Rationale
Having intact skin is the best defensive mechanism, because the skin acts as a protective barrier
and prevents bacteria from entering. If there is a cut in the skin, bacteria can enter the blood
stream and cause an infection. The oral mucous membranes are in the mouth and are also a
protective barrier, but aren't as important at protecting against pathogens as the skin. The acidic
environment of the digestive tract is needed to break down the foods to make them easier to
digest, and the ability to cough and sneeze doesn't protect the body against pathogens.
The medical assistant is reprocessing a contaminated endoscope. Which of the following is the
minimum level of asepsis required for this instrument? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ disinfection
Rationale
The Spaulding Scheme of classification divides medical devices into critical, semi-critical, and non-
critical categories based on the infection risk to the patient. An endoscope is categorized as a semi-
critical instrument within the Spaulding Scheme. The absolute minimum level of asepsis required
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for an endoscope is high level disinfection. Critical devices should undergo sterilization (destroys all
microbial life; accomplished either chemically or by utilizing an autoclave). Semi-critical devices
should at least undergo disinfection (rids the device of most all pathogenic microorganisms, but not
necessarily all forms). Non-critical devices require low level disinfection. Sanitization is a general
term often associated with cleansing with a soap or detergent.
While giving a patient an injection, the patient jumped, causing the medical assistant to get stuck
on the hand with a contaminated needle. After performing thorough hand washing, which of the
following should the medical assistant do first? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Report the incident to a supervisor.
Rationale
If a healthcare worker is accidently stuck with a needle, there are specific OSHA guidelines to follow.
The worker should immediately flush with water, then tell a supervisor of the incident. The worker
would then be directed to confidentially seek a physicians care. Documents must be filed recording
the incident date/time, patient if known, type of stick. The source individual should be tested for
infectious diseases (HBV,HCV,HIV). OSHA requires that the employee be notified of the results. The
exposed worker then needs to be tested for HBV, HCV, and HIV. The exposed employee must have a
physicians written list of treatment options within 15 days.
Which of the following specific precautions should a patient be placed on to prevent the
transmission of Clostridium difficile? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ contact
Rationale
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a toxin-producing, spore-forming bacterium found in feces. Clinical
symptoms of infection include both nausea and watery diarrhea and can result in colitis,
perforation, or sepsis. Clostridium difficile spores can live for a very long time outside the patient
and can reside on bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. In addition, it
can be spread from person to person from the hands of physicians or other health care workers and
visitors. For this reason, standard precautions are not enough; contact precautions are added. The
spores do not reside in the respiratory system so airborne/droplet precautions are not necessary.
When working with a patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the ECG
technician should Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ take the precautions for a contact pathogen.
Rationale
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
NCCT- infection control Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Which of the following statements by the medical assistant indicates the need for a better
understanding of standard precautions? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ The patient should wear a gown, gloves, and
mask to maintain contact-droplet isolation.
Rationale
In a healthcare setting, the staff wears Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), not the patients. The
purpose of following contact-droplet isolation precautions are to contain the patient's environment
and prevent the spread of infection. Since they have contact with multiple patients, medical
professionals must wear proper PPE and perform proper hand hygiene when caring for every
patient. Antimicrobial wipes can be utilized to clean exam rooms between patients. In order to limit
potential for accidental exposure/puncture, Sharps containers should be replaced when 2/3 full.
Which of the following skin disorders are noncommunicable? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ alopecia
Rationale
Alopecia is a noncontagious skin disorder that leads to hair loss or baldness. The cause is largely
unknown, but may be hereditary or a side effect of medication. Impetigo, scabies, and poison ivy
are all highly contagious skin conditions. Impetigo causes red sores on the body, while individuals
with scabies develop a skin rash from mites. Poison ivy is well known for causing an itchy and
sometimes painful rash.
A patient suspected of having which of the following respiratory disorders should be placed in
isolation in the medical office? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Active TB
Rationale
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,Click here for more: Scholars nexus
With Active TB, transmission occurs through inhaling bacteria in microscopic droplets - airborne
precautions should be initiated per protocol. COPD refers to a group of lung diseases that block
airflow and make breathing difficult. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common
conditions that make up COPD. Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi
of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms
of hypersensitivity. Croup refers to an infection of the upper airway, generally in children, which
obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough.
It is appropriate for the medical assistant to use an alcohol-based hand rub as the only method of
hand hygiene after which of the following activities? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ measuring a patient's apical pulse
Rationale
In addition to when visibly soiled, hands should always be washed with an antimicrobial soap and
water before eating and after using a restroom to reduce the incidence of health care environment
related infections.
Which of the following is the most important defensive mechanism against pathogens? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓
intact skin
Rationale
Having intact skin is the best defensive mechanism, because the skin acts as a protective barrier
and prevents bacteria from entering. If there is a cut in the skin, bacteria can enter the blood
stream and cause an infection. The oral mucous membranes are in the mouth and are also a
protective barrier, but aren't as important at protecting against pathogens as the skin. The acidic
environment of the digestive tract is needed to break down the foods to make them easier to
digest, and the ability to cough and sneeze doesn't protect the body against pathogens.
The medical assistant is reprocessing a contaminated endoscope. Which of the following is the
minimum level of asepsis required for this instrument? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ disinfection
Rationale
The Spaulding Scheme of classification divides medical devices into critical, semi-critical, and non-
critical categories based on the infection risk to the patient. An endoscope is categorized as a semi-
critical instrument within the Spaulding Scheme. The absolute minimum level of asepsis required
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, Click here for more: Scholars nexus
for an endoscope is high level disinfection. Critical devices should undergo sterilization (destroys all
microbial life; accomplished either chemically or by utilizing an autoclave). Semi-critical devices
should at least undergo disinfection (rids the device of most all pathogenic microorganisms, but not
necessarily all forms). Non-critical devices require low level disinfection. Sanitization is a general
term often associated with cleansing with a soap or detergent.
While giving a patient an injection, the patient jumped, causing the medical assistant to get stuck
on the hand with a contaminated needle. After performing thorough hand washing, which of the
following should the medical assistant do first? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ Report the incident to a supervisor.
Rationale
If a healthcare worker is accidently stuck with a needle, there are specific OSHA guidelines to follow.
The worker should immediately flush with water, then tell a supervisor of the incident. The worker
would then be directed to confidentially seek a physicians care. Documents must be filed recording
the incident date/time, patient if known, type of stick. The source individual should be tested for
infectious diseases (HBV,HCV,HIV). OSHA requires that the employee be notified of the results. The
exposed worker then needs to be tested for HBV, HCV, and HIV. The exposed employee must have a
physicians written list of treatment options within 15 days.
Which of the following specific precautions should a patient be placed on to prevent the
transmission of Clostridium difficile? Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ contact
Rationale
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a toxin-producing, spore-forming bacterium found in feces. Clinical
symptoms of infection include both nausea and watery diarrhea and can result in colitis,
perforation, or sepsis. Clostridium difficile spores can live for a very long time outside the patient
and can reside on bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. In addition, it
can be spread from person to person from the hands of physicians or other health care workers and
visitors. For this reason, standard precautions are not enough; contact precautions are added. The
spores do not reside in the respiratory system so airborne/droplet precautions are not necessary.
When working with a patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the ECG
technician should Ans: ✓ ✓ ✓ take the precautions for a contact pathogen.
Rationale
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
