INFECTION PREVENTION &
CONTROL
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Section 1: Core Principles & Standard Precautions (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the primary goal of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)?
A: To prevent the spread of infections between patients, healthcare workers, and visitors in all
healthcare settings.
2. What are Standard Precautions?
A: They are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless
of suspected or confirmed infection status.
3. When should hand hygiene be performed?
A: Before and after patient contact, after contact with bodily fluids, after removing gloves, and
before clean/aseptic procedures.
4. What are the five moments for hand hygiene according to the WHO?
A: 1) Before touching a patient, 2) Before clean/aseptic procedure, 3) After body fluid exposure
risk, 4) After touching a patient, 5) After touching patient surroundings.
5. What is the gold standard for hand hygiene when hands are visibly soiled?
A: Washing with soap and water for at least 40-60 seconds.
6. What is the preferred method for hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled?
A: Using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) for 20-30 seconds.
7. When should gloves be worn?
A: When anticipating contact with blood, bodily fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or
contaminated equipment.
8. Can gloves replace the need for hand hygiene?
A: No. Hand hygiene must be performed before putting on and immediately after removing
gloves.
9. What type of personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect clothing and skin
from fluids?
A: Gowns or aprons.
10. When are masks and eye protection (goggles/face shields) required?
A: During procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluids.
, 11. What is respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette?
A: Covering the mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing, using tissues, performing hand hygiene
afterward, and wearing a mask if symptomatic.
12. How should used needles and other sharps be disposed of?
A: Immediately in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container.
13. What is the single most important practice to prevent the spread of infection?
A: Proper and consistent hand hygiene.
14. What is the purpose of safe injection practices?
A: To prevent transmission of infectious diseases between patients or between patients and
healthcare personnel.
15. What does "one needle, one syringe, only one time" mean?
A: Never reuse a needle or syringe on multiple patients or to access a medication vial multiple
times.
16. How should patient care equipment be managed?
A: Reusable equipment must be cleaned and disinfected or sterilized between patients according
to the manufacturer's instructions.
17. What is the difference between cleaning and disinfection?
A: Cleaning removes visible dirt and organic material, while disinfection reduces the number of
pathogenic microorganisms to a safe level.
18. What is sterilization?
A: The complete elimination of all microbial life, including bacterial spores.
19. When is sterilization required versus disinfection?
A: Sterilization is required for surgical instruments and devices that enter sterile tissue.
Disinfection is for non-critical items (e.g., blood pressure cuffs) and semi-critical items (e.g.,
endoscopes).
20. What are environmental controls in IPC?
A: Measures to reduce the risk of infection from the environment, including regular cleaning and
disinfection of surfaces.
21. What is a "high-touch surface"? Give examples.
A: Surfaces touched frequently by many people. Examples: bed rails, doorknobs, light switches,
IV pumps, and tabletops.
22. Why is it important to handle laundry carefully?
A: To prevent the dispersal of microorganisms into the environment and avoid cross-
contamination.
23. What is the purpose of patient placement?
A: To place patients with certain infections in appropriate accommodations (e.g., a single room)
to minimize transmission risk.
CONTROL
Double-click or double-tap to edit
Section 1: Core Principles & Standard Precautions (Questions 1-30)
1. What is the primary goal of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)?
A: To prevent the spread of infections between patients, healthcare workers, and visitors in all
healthcare settings.
2. What are Standard Precautions?
A: They are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless
of suspected or confirmed infection status.
3. When should hand hygiene be performed?
A: Before and after patient contact, after contact with bodily fluids, after removing gloves, and
before clean/aseptic procedures.
4. What are the five moments for hand hygiene according to the WHO?
A: 1) Before touching a patient, 2) Before clean/aseptic procedure, 3) After body fluid exposure
risk, 4) After touching a patient, 5) After touching patient surroundings.
5. What is the gold standard for hand hygiene when hands are visibly soiled?
A: Washing with soap and water for at least 40-60 seconds.
6. What is the preferred method for hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled?
A: Using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) for 20-30 seconds.
7. When should gloves be worn?
A: When anticipating contact with blood, bodily fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or
contaminated equipment.
8. Can gloves replace the need for hand hygiene?
A: No. Hand hygiene must be performed before putting on and immediately after removing
gloves.
9. What type of personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect clothing and skin
from fluids?
A: Gowns or aprons.
10. When are masks and eye protection (goggles/face shields) required?
A: During procedures that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood or bodily fluids.
, 11. What is respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette?
A: Covering the mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing, using tissues, performing hand hygiene
afterward, and wearing a mask if symptomatic.
12. How should used needles and other sharps be disposed of?
A: Immediately in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container.
13. What is the single most important practice to prevent the spread of infection?
A: Proper and consistent hand hygiene.
14. What is the purpose of safe injection practices?
A: To prevent transmission of infectious diseases between patients or between patients and
healthcare personnel.
15. What does "one needle, one syringe, only one time" mean?
A: Never reuse a needle or syringe on multiple patients or to access a medication vial multiple
times.
16. How should patient care equipment be managed?
A: Reusable equipment must be cleaned and disinfected or sterilized between patients according
to the manufacturer's instructions.
17. What is the difference between cleaning and disinfection?
A: Cleaning removes visible dirt and organic material, while disinfection reduces the number of
pathogenic microorganisms to a safe level.
18. What is sterilization?
A: The complete elimination of all microbial life, including bacterial spores.
19. When is sterilization required versus disinfection?
A: Sterilization is required for surgical instruments and devices that enter sterile tissue.
Disinfection is for non-critical items (e.g., blood pressure cuffs) and semi-critical items (e.g.,
endoscopes).
20. What are environmental controls in IPC?
A: Measures to reduce the risk of infection from the environment, including regular cleaning and
disinfection of surfaces.
21. What is a "high-touch surface"? Give examples.
A: Surfaces touched frequently by many people. Examples: bed rails, doorknobs, light switches,
IV pumps, and tabletops.
22. Why is it important to handle laundry carefully?
A: To prevent the dispersal of microorganisms into the environment and avoid cross-
contamination.
23. What is the purpose of patient placement?
A: To place patients with certain infections in appropriate accommodations (e.g., a single room)
to minimize transmission risk.
