Free Infection Prevention and Asepsis MCQs with Answers
50 Infection Prevention and Asepsis MCQs from Fundamentals of Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Asepsis covers the chain of infection, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, standard and transmission-based precautions, sterilisation, disinfection and safe waste disposal. The key distinction is between medical asepsis, which reduces microorganisms, and surgical asepsis, which maintains a sterile field during invasive procedures.
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50 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Portal of entry
- B. Susceptible host
- C. Mode of transmission
- D. Causative microorganism
Explanation: A susceptible host has reduced resistance and is more likely to develop infection after exposure.
Correct answer: Susceptible host- A. Rinsing fingertips briefly under running water
- B. Rubbing all hand surfaces for the recommended time
- C. Wearing clean gloves instead of cleaning the hands
- D. Wiping the palms with a dry disposable towel
Explanation: Friction applied to the palms, backs of the hands, fingers, thumbs and fingertips removes microorganisms effectively.
Correct answer: Rubbing all hand surfaces for the recommended time- A. Put on gloves only after touching the bedside table
- B. Wear a gown and gloves before patient contact
- C. Wear an N95 respirator for every patient contact
- D. Remove the patient's mask before beginning care
Explanation: Contact precautions require a gown and gloves when contact with the patient or the care environment is expected.
Correct answer: Wear a gown and gloves before patient contact- A. Gown
- B. Face protection
- C. Gloves
- D. Hand hygiene product
Explanation: Gloves are generally applied last so they remain clean while the gown and face protection are adjusted.
Correct answer: Gloves- A. Continue because the forceps still looks clean
- B. Wipe the forceps with an alcohol swab
- C. Treat the forceps as contaminated and replace it
- D. Place the forceps inside the sterile field again
Explanation: Contact with a nonsterile surface contaminates a sterile item, even when no soil is visible.
Correct answer: Treat the forceps as contaminated and replace it- A. The pack label has changed colour
- B. The instrument feels hot after processing
- C. A biological indicator shows no growth
- D. The outside of the pack is completely dry
Explanation: A biological indicator uses resistant bacterial spores and is the most direct test of sterilisation effectiveness.
Correct answer: A biological indicator shows no growth- A. A blood pressure cuff on intact skin
- B. A bedside locker used by one patient
- C. A flexible endoscope contacting mucous membranes
- D. A clean wall near the patient's bed
Explanation: A flexible endoscope is a semicritical item that contacts mucous membranes and requires high-level disinfection when sterilisation is not…
Correct answer: A flexible endoscope contacting mucous membranes- A. Cover the eye and continue the procedure
- B. Irrigate the eye immediately with clean water or saline
- C. Apply an antiseptic solution directly to the eye
- D. Wait for symptoms before reporting the exposure
Explanation: Immediate irrigation reduces the contact time between potentially infectious material and the conjunctiva.
Correct answer: Irrigate the eye immediately with clean water or saline- A. Shake the linen to remove visible particles
- B. Hold the linen against the uniform while carrying it
- C. Place the linen directly into the designated bag
- D. Sort the linen on the floor before bagging it
Explanation: Used linen should be bagged at the point of removal and handled as little as possible.
Correct answer: Place the linen directly into the designated bag- A. Portal of entry
- B. Reservoir
- C. Mode of transmission
- D. Susceptible host
Explanation: A reservoir is the human, animal, or environmental site where microorganisms live and multiply.
Correct answer: Reservoir- A. Intact skin
- B. Respiratory tract
- C. Sterile muscle tissue
- D. Closed urinary bladder
Explanation: The respiratory tract is a common portal of entry because inhaled organisms can reach mucous membranes and the lungs.
Correct answer: Respiratory tract- A. Touch the inside of each glove with bare fingers
- B. Touch only the inner surface of the glove cuff
- C. Place the package on the patient's bed
- D. Keep the hands below the waist while gloving
Explanation: The inside of the glove cuff may be touched because it will contact the hand, while the outside remains sterile.
Correct answer: Touch only the inner surface of the glove cuff33. A patient with measles is admitted to a hospital unit. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
- A. Place the patient in a negative-pressure room
- B. Use a standard surgical mask for every entry
- C. Assign the patient to a positive-pressure room
- D. Keep the room door open for better ventilation
Explanation: Measles spreads through airborne particles, so airborne precautions include a negative-pressure room and a fit-tested respirator such as…
Correct answer: Place the patient in a negative-pressure room- A. Use shared equipment after wiping it briefly
- B. Use dedicated equipment for that patient
- C. Place the cuff on the floor between readings
- D. Remove precautions when taking vital signs
Explanation: Dedicated equipment prevents microorganisms from being carried to other patients.
Correct answer: Use dedicated equipment for that patient- A. Rub until the hands are visibly wet
- B. Apply it only to the fingertips
- C. Rub all hand surfaces until they are dry
- D. Rinse the hands immediately with water
Explanation: Alcohol-based hand rub should cover all hand surfaces and be rubbed until the hands are dry.
Correct answer: Rub all hand surfaces until they are dry- A. Low-level surface disinfection
- B. High-level disinfection
- C. Dry dusting with a sterile cloth
- D. Rinsing with ordinary tap water
Explanation: A respiratory endoscope contacts mucous membranes and is a semicritical item, so it requires high-level disinfection after thorough…
Correct answer: High-level disinfection- A. Ethylene oxide gas
- B. Warm tap-water rinsing
- C. Routine detergent wiping
- D. Brief exposure to room air
Explanation: Ethylene oxide gas can sterilise many heat- and moisture-sensitive medical devices when used in a controlled process.
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide gas- A. Pick it up with bare hands and discard it
- B. Leave it on the floor until the procedure ends
- C. Use gloves or forceps to place it in the infectious-waste container
- D. Return it to the dressing pack for later disposal
Explanation: The dressing should be handled with appropriate protection and placed directly into the designated infectious-waste container.
Correct answer: Use gloves or forceps to place it in the infectious-waste container- A. Continue because the gown still looks clean
- B. Cover the wet area with an extra towel
- C. Replace the contaminated gown and gloves
- D. Dry the gown with a sterile gauze pad
Explanation: Moisture can carry microorganisms through a sterile barrier by strike-through contamination.
Correct answer: Replace the contaminated gown and gloves- A. Cleaning the hands after leaving the patient's room
- B. Cleaning the hands before touching sterile supplies
- C. Cleaning the hands after removing used gloves
- D. Cleaning the hands after touching the patient's bed
Explanation: Hand hygiene is required immediately before an aseptic task to prevent microorganisms on the nurse's hands from entering the wound.
Correct answer: Cleaning the hands before touching sterile supplies