Question 1

Which of the following are elements needed to transmit an infection?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Transmission of infection requires all core components of the chain of infection: an infectious agent, a reservoir where the organism can survive, and a means of transmission to a susceptible host. Without any one of these elements, infection cannot spread.

Question 2

What is NOT a symptom of measles?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Classic symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and Koplik spots, followed by a characteristic maculopapular rash. Chest pain is not a typical sign of measles and suggests another condition.

Question 3

A client is admitted with symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis. Which finding is associated with Clostridium difficile?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: C. difficile commonly causes profuse watery diarrhea that may contain mucus and blood due to colonic inflammation.

Question 4

Which of the following diseases is not transmitted by water and food?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Hepatitis C is primarily bloodborne (percutaneous, sexual, and vertical transmission) and is not spread via contaminated food or water, unlike hepatitis A, cholera, and poliomyelitis, which are fecal-oral.

Question 5

The pressure to be set in the autoclave for sterilization is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Standard steam sterilization in an autoclave is performed at approximately 121°C and 15 psi (lb/in²). This achieves effective microbial destruction.

Question 6

Which measure used by the nurse would be most effective in preventing exposure while caring for a client with Hepatitis B?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne infection, and the greatest risk of transmission occurs through exposure to contaminated needles or sharps. Proper disposal of needles in a puncture-resistant sharps container is the most effective measure to prevent exposure.

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient with emphysema and respiratory failure who is receiving mechanical ventilation through an endotracheal tube. To prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which action is most important to include in the plan of care?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Elevating the head of the bed 30–45 degrees reduces aspiration of secretions and gastric contents and is a key evidence-based intervention in VAP prevention bundles. Antibiotics treat rather than prevent VAP; hyperoxygenation is for suctioning safety; suctioning when crackles are heard does not prevent VAP.

Question 8

A client with AIDS asks the nurse why he cannot have a pitcher of water left at his bedside. The nurse should tell the client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Immunocompromised clients are at high risk for infection; standing water in bedside pitchers can harbor microorganisms. To reduce contamination, advise them to drink only freshly run water rather than water kept at the bedside.

Question 9

A 6-month-old infant is hospitalized with symptoms of botulism. What aspect of the infant's history is associated with Clostridium botulinum infection?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Honey can contain C. botulinum spores; ingestion by infants can cause infant botulism. The other elements in the history are not established risk factors.

Question 10

When cleaning the thermometer after use, the directions to follow for medical asepsis are?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: With medical asepsis, clean from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated area to avoid spreading microorganisms to cleaner areas. The stem is the least soiled and the bulb is the most soiled; therefore, wipe from the stem to the bulb.

Question 11

What is the required temperature for effective sterilization in a steam autoclave operating at 15 pounds per square inch for 30 minutes?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Standard steam autoclave sterilization uses 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi for 15–30 minutes to achieve microbial destruction; 121°C is required.

Question 12

What is the approximate risk of HIV infection from a needlestick injury?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Percutaneous exposure to HIV via a needlestick carries an estimated transmission risk of about 0.3%, based on occupational exposure data.

Question 13

In cold chain management, between which temperatures is the temperature maintained?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Vaccines and other biological materials must be kept between +2°C and +8°C to maintain stability and potency. Below +2°C, freezing can destroy active ingredients, while above +8°C, heat can cause degradation and loss of efficacy.

Question 14

The most common nosocomial infection is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most frequent healthcare-associated infections; pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and C. difficile infections occur less commonly.

Question 15

Fresh bleaching powder contains?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Fresh bleaching powder contains about 33% available chlorine; this is the standard concentration for effective disinfection.

Question 16

How does the coronavirus transmit?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly by respiratory droplets at close range and by touching contaminated surfaces and then the face; all listed mechanisms contribute to transmission.

Question 17

Which of the following chemicals is the most powerful disinfectant?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Lysol (cresol) has a higher phenol coefficient and greater germicidal activity than phenol, Dettol (chloroxylenol), or KMnO4, making it the most powerful disinfectant among the options.

Question 18

The most efficient way to break the chain of infection is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Hand hygiene most effectively interrupts transmission by removing pathogens from the hands and preventing cross-contamination. PPE, gloves, and isolation are important but are less universally effective than proper hand hygiene.

Question 19

Mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus are?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are recognized early or mild symptoms of COVID-19, so all listed options apply.

Question 20

Fumigation is the process of—?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Fumigation uses gaseous chemicals to destroy microorganisms in rooms or equipment; it is a method of sterilization or decontamination.

Question 21

Which element in the circular chain of infection can be eliminated by preserving skin integrity?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The skin is a natural barrier against pathogens. Preserving skin integrity prevents microorganisms from entering the body, thus breaking the “portal of entry” link in the chain of infection.

Question 22

A burn client's care plan indicates an expected outcome of no localized or systemic infection. Which assessment by the nurse supports this outcome?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Minimal bacteria on a wound culture indicates absence of active local infection, supporting the expected outcome. The other findings—cloudy foul-smelling urine, elevated WBC count, and fever—suggest infection.

Question 23

The nurse on the oncology unit is caring for a client with a WBC of 1,500. During evening visitation, a visitor brings a fruit basket. What action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Clients with neutropenia should avoid fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of bacterial or fungal contamination.

Question 24

Which of the following statements does the nurse most need to keep in mind when collecting a sputum specimen?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Proper sputum collection after a deep breath ensures sample accuracy and minimizes contamination.

Question 25

The nurse is caring for a client 7 days after a burn injury involving 60% of the body surface area. The nursing care of this client would primarily focus on?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: One week after a major burn, the acute resuscitation phase has passed, and the greatest risks are wound infection and sepsis due to extensive tissue damage and open wounds. Therefore, preventing infection is the primary nursing focus.

Question 26

Which of the following is a contraindication to taking a rectal temperature?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Rectal temperatures can cause mucosal trauma and introduce bacteria into the bloodstream; they are avoided in neutropenic clients due to the high risk of infection. NPO status and unconsciousness are not specific contraindications, and rectal temperatures may be used in many young children when not otherwise contraindicated.

Question 27

A patient is on respiratory isolation for tuberculosis (TB). Which of the following indicates removal of isolation precautions?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Airborne isolation for TB can be discontinued when the patient is no longer infectious, which is best indicated by a negative sputum for AFB while on effective therapy. Medication duration alone, chest X-ray changes, and breath sounds do not determine infectiousness.

Question 28

What is the common mode of transmission of poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Poliovirus is transmitted primarily via the fecal–oral route through contaminated hands, water, or food.

Question 29

The nurse is giving instructions to the mother of a newborn infant with oral candidiasis. Which of the following statements by the mother would indicate the need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Stopping antifungal therapy when lesions disappear is incorrect; treatment (e.g., nystatin) should continue for the prescribed course, typically about a week, to prevent recurrence. The other statements reflect correct care: giving nystatin after feeds, sterilizing nipples/pacifiers, and treating the mother concurrently.

Question 30

Endoscopic catheters are sterilized by?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Endoscopic catheters are heat‑sensitive and cannot be boiled, autoclaved, or exposed to dry heat; they require chemical high‑level disinfection/sterilization with 2% glutaraldehyde.

Question 31

In the process of water purification, chlorine acts as?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Chlorine destroys microorganisms by oxidizing their cell structures; hence, it serves as a germicide in water purification processes.

Question 32

Considering the chain of infection, a reservoir might be?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: In the chain of infection, a reservoir is the environment where the pathogen lives and multiplies. A contaminated water supply can serve as a reservoir. A tick is a vector (mode of transmission), an uninfected patient is not a source, and Staphylococcus bacteria represent the infectious agent, not the reservoir.

Question 33

Cross infection can occur through the following, except?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Fomites, contaminated food/drinks, and insects can transmit pathogens; autoclaving sterilizes and prevents transmission, so it is not a source of cross infection.

Question 34

The most common means of spreading infection are?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Hands are the most common vehicle for transmission of pathogens in healthcare; hand hygiene is the primary prevention measure.

Question 35

Infections occur in hospital care facilities, including hospitals, by any method?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: An infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility, regardless of the route of transmission, is termed a nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infection. The other options are transmission routes, not the name of the infection.

Question 36

A common type of nosocomial infection is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, more frequent than meningitis, gastroenteritis, or cellulitis.

Question 37

Which of the following are the factors that increase a patient's potential for acquiring a nosocomial infection?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Physiologic stress elevates cortisol and suppresses immune responses, increasing susceptibility to hospital-acquired infections.

Question 38

For treatment of class III dog bite, all of these are correct EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Category III bites require immediate wound washing, rabies vaccine (ARV), and rabies immunoglobulin. Primary closure is generally avoided initially; suturing, if needed, is delayed after proper cleansing and prophylaxis. Therefore immediate stitching is the incorrect step.

Question 39

After using a thermometer, it should be cleaned in which direction?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Clean from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated. The bulb is the dirtiest part, so wipe from stem to bulb to avoid spreading microbes to the stem.

Question 40

Most common hospital acquired infection is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Urinary tract infections—most often catheter-associated—are the most common hospital-acquired infections; these primarily involve the bladder.

Question 41

The most difficult route is to block spread of-?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Airborne transmission via droplet nuclei remains suspended and travels long distances, making containment difficult compared with vector, water, or direct contact routes.

Question 42

Which of the following refers to a patient who enters a hospital with a known infection?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: A community-acquired infection is one that the patient already had before hospital admission. Nosocomial and iatrogenic infections are acquired inside the healthcare setting, while idiopathic means unknown cause.

Question 43

The nurse is caring for a client who was recently admitted to the hospital for complications related to Influenza A. To prevent infection transmission, which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn when entering the client’s room?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Influenza A is transmitted primarily by droplets. Droplet precautions require a surgical (face) mask within 3 feet of the patient; N95 respirators are reserved for airborne pathogens like tuberculosis.

Question 44

The disease notifiable to the WHO under the International Regulation Act are all except?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Under the International Health Regulations, cholera, plague, and yellow fever are historically notifiable diseases to WHO; diphtheria is not on that list.

Question 45

What is the maximum length of time a nurse should allow an IV bag of solution to infuse?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: IV solution bags should not hang longer than 24 hours to reduce contamination and infection risk; replace the bag after 24 hours.

Question 46

Which of the following techniques is recommended for removing a tick from the skin?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Best practice is to use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. Jerking, heat, or petroleum jelly can cause regurgitation or leave mouthparts, increasing infection risk.

Question 47

Which type of endotracheal tube is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: CDC recommends endotracheal tubes with subglottic secretion drainage (CASS) to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia by removing pooled secretions above the cuff. Uncuffed increases aspiration risk; fenestrated tubes are not for ventilation/VAP prevention; nasotracheal describes route, not a VAP-reducing type.

Question 48

The nurse is caring for a client after a motor vehicle accident. The client has a fractured tibia, and bone is noted protruding through the skin. Which action is of priority?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: An open fracture is at high risk for contamination and bleeding. The priority is to cover the exposed bone with a sterile dressing to protect from infection and minimize tissue damage. Do not manipulate the limb or apply compression/ACE wrap, and positioning prone is not appropriate.

Question 49

The nurse who is caring for a client with cancer notes a WBC of 500 on the laboratory results. Which intervention would be most appropriate to include in the client’s plan of care?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: A WBC of 500 indicates severe neutropenia with high infection risk. The priority intervention is to reduce exposure to pathogens by avoiding crowds and sick individuals. Option A cites hypothermia (incorrect rationale), and C/D address bleeding risk rather than infection.

Question 50

A common type of nosocomial infection is?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most frequent hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections; the other options are less commonly nosocomial.

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Which of the following are elements needed to transmit an infection?

What is NOT a symptom of measles?

A client is admitted with symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis. Which finding is associated with Clostridium difficile?

Which of the following diseases is not transmitted by water and food?

The pressure to be set in the autoclave for sterilization is?

Which measure used by the nurse would be most effective in preventing exposure while caring for a client with Hepatitis B?

The nurse is caring for a patient with emphysema and respiratory failure who is receiving mechanical ventilation through an endotracheal tube. To prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which action is most important to include in the plan of care?

A client with AIDS asks the nurse why he cannot have a pitcher of water left at his bedside. The nurse should tell the client?

A 6-month-old infant is hospitalized with symptoms of botulism. What aspect of the infant's history is associated with Clostridium botulinum infection?

When cleaning the thermometer after use, the directions to follow for medical asepsis are?

What is the required temperature for effective sterilization in a steam autoclave operating at 15 pounds per square inch for 30 minutes?

What is the approximate risk of HIV infection from a needlestick injury?

In cold chain management, between which temperatures is the temperature maintained?

The most common nosocomial infection is?

Fresh bleaching powder contains?

How does the coronavirus transmit?

Which of the following chemicals is the most powerful disinfectant?

The most efficient way to break the chain of infection is?

Mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus are?

Fumigation is the process of—?

Which element in the circular chain of infection can be eliminated by preserving skin integrity?

A burn client's care plan indicates an expected outcome of no localized or systemic infection. Which assessment by the nurse supports this outcome?

The nurse on the oncology unit is caring for a client with a WBC of 1,500. During evening visitation, a visitor brings a fruit basket. What action should the nurse take?

Which of the following statements does the nurse most need to keep in mind when collecting a sputum specimen?

The nurse is caring for a client 7 days after a burn injury involving 60% of the body surface area. The nursing care of this client would primarily focus on?

Which of the following is a contraindication to taking a rectal temperature?

A patient is on respiratory isolation for tuberculosis (TB). Which of the following indicates removal of isolation precautions?

What is the common mode of transmission of poliomyelitis?

The nurse is giving instructions to the mother of a newborn infant with oral candidiasis. Which of the following statements by the mother would indicate the need for further teaching?

Endoscopic catheters are sterilized by?

In the process of water purification, chlorine acts as?

Considering the chain of infection, a reservoir might be?

Cross infection can occur through the following, except?

The most common means of spreading infection are?

Infections occur in hospital care facilities, including hospitals, by any method?

A common type of nosocomial infection is?

Which of the following are the factors that increase a patient's potential for acquiring a nosocomial infection?

For treatment of class III dog bite, all of these are correct EXCEPT?

After using a thermometer, it should be cleaned in which direction?

Most common hospital acquired infection is?

The most difficult route is to block spread of-?

Which of the following refers to a patient who enters a hospital with a known infection?

The nurse is caring for a client who was recently admitted to the hospital for complications related to Influenza A. To prevent infection transmission, which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn when entering the client’s room?

The disease notifiable to the WHO under the International Regulation Act are all except?

What is the maximum length of time a nurse should allow an IV bag of solution to infuse?

Which of the following techniques is recommended for removing a tick from the skin?

Which type of endotracheal tube is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia?

The nurse is caring for a client after a motor vehicle accident. The client has a fractured tibia, and bone is noted protruding through the skin. Which action is of priority?

The nurse who is caring for a client with cancer notes a WBC of 500 on the laboratory results. Which intervention would be most appropriate to include in the client’s plan of care?

A common type of nosocomial infection is?

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