Infection Control - Nbcot Registered Occupational Therapists Otr

1. Which option is correct: change gloves between tasks on the same client or keep same gloves throughout?

   Change gloves between tasks and after contact with contaminated material. Changing gloves prevents cross-contamination between different body sites or materials on the same patient.

2. What is the correct approach to cleaning shared therapy equipment between clients?

   Clean then disinfect with an approved product per facility contact time. Cleaning removes organic matter first, allowing disinfectants to effectively kill pathogens during required contact time.

3. What is the safest placement for a contaminated item during treatment: on clean tabletop or in a designated dirty area?

   Place it in a designated dirty area or container, not on clean surfaces. Designated areas prevent cross-contamination of clean surfaces, maintaining separation of clean and dirty zones.

4. What is the correct PPE for contact precautions (for example, draining wound or MRSA)?

   Gloves and gown upon room entry; dedicated equipment if possible. Contact precautions require barriers and equipment dedication to contain resistant organisms like MRSA from spreading.

5. What is the correct hand hygiene method after caring for a client with suspected C. difficile?

   Soap and water (not alcohol-based rub alone). C. difficile spores resist alcohol, necessitating soap and water for mechanical removal to prevent transmission.

6. Identify the correct action if you have an uncovered, weeping lesion on your hand and direct care is planned.

   Do not provide direct care until the lesion is covered and cleared per policy. Uncovered lesions pose transmission risks, requiring coverage and clearance to protect clients during direct care.

7. What is the correct PPE to wear when splashing of blood or body fluids is anticipated?

   Gloves plus gown and mask with eye protection (or face shield). Full barrier protection prevents exposure to splashes that could transmit bloodborne pathogens during procedures.

8. What is the correct immediate response to a blood or body fluid splash to the eyes?

   Irrigate eyes with water or saline and report per exposure protocol. Irrigation flushes contaminants from mucous membranes, and reporting initiates evaluation for potential infection risks.

9. Which body substances are covered under Standard Precautions (assume infectious)?

   Blood; all body fluids (except sweat); nonintact skin; mucous membranes. These substances can harbor pathogens, requiring universal precautions to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

10. Which option is correct for respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette in a waiting area?

    Mask symptomatic clients, provide tissues, and perform hand hygiene. These measures contain respiratory secretions, reducing transmission of infections in communal areas.

11. What is the correct PPE for airborne precautions (for example, TB or measles)?

    Fit-tested N95 (or higher) respirator; negative-pressure room if available. Airborne precautions demand respirators and isolation to filter small infectious particles that remain suspended in air.

12. Which option is correct for disinfecting a surface: wipe once and dry immediately or keep wet for contact time?

    Keep the surface wet for the manufacturer-specified contact time. Sufficient contact time ensures disinfectants inactivate microbes, preventing incomplete pathogen elimination.

13. Which option is correct after a needlestick: recap the needle or do not recap and report immediately?

    Do not recap; wash area and report immediately per exposure protocol. Avoiding recapping reduces injury risk, while prompt reporting enables post-exposure prophylaxis if needed.

14. What is the correct action when a client is on isolation precautions and must leave the room for therapy?

    Follow required PPE and transport precautions; perform hand hygiene and clean equipment. Adhering to precautions during transport contains pathogens, protecting others and ensuring post-transport hygiene.

15. What is the correct disposal method for used needles and other sharps?

    Immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container. Sharps containers prevent accidental injuries and contain biohazards safely without recapping risks.

16. Identify the correct action after removing gloves: perform hand hygiene or skip if gloves were intact?

    Perform hand hygiene immediately after glove removal. Gloves may have micro-tears or become contaminated during removal, requiring hygiene to prevent pathogen spread.

17. What is the correct sequence for doffing PPE to reduce self-contamination?

    Gloves, goggles/face shield, gown, mask/respirator; then hand hygiene. This sequence removes most contaminated items first, reducing the risk of transferring pathogens to mucous membranes.

18. What is the correct PPE for droplet precautions (for example, influenza) when within close range?

    Surgical mask (plus other PPE per Standard Precautions). Droplet precautions use masks to block large respiratory particles from pathogens like influenza within close proximity.

19. What is the correct sequence for donning PPE (gown, mask/respirator, goggles, gloves)?

    Gown, mask/respirator, goggles/face shield, gloves. This order ensures clean areas are protected first, minimizing contamination during PPE application.

20. What is the primary purpose of Standard Precautions in all OT practice settings?

    Prevent transmission by treating all blood and body fluids as infectious. This approach minimizes pathogen transmission risk by assuming universal infectivity of bodily substances in healthcare environments.

21. What is the correct handling of soiled linens to reduce microorganism transmission?

    Handle minimally; avoid shaking; bag at point of use in designated bag. Minimal handling and bagging at source contain contaminants, reducing airborne dispersion of microorganisms.

22. What is the correct infection-control action for reusable splints or orthoses used by multiple clients?

    Clean and disinfect between clients; dedicate to one client when feasible. Disinfection eliminates residual pathogens, while dedication minimizes cross-client transmission risks.

23. What is the single most effective action to prevent healthcare-associated infection?

    Perform hand hygiene at the appropriate times. Proper hand hygiene disrupts pathogen transmission chains, reducing infection rates more effectively than other measures.

24. Which option is the correct first step when hands are visibly soiled: soap and water or alcohol rub?

    Soap and water. Visibly soiled hands require mechanical removal of dirt and microbes, which alcohol rubs cannot achieve effectively.

25. What is the safest action if a glove is torn during a treatment session?

    Stop, remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, and don new gloves. Torn gloves compromise the barrier, necessitating immediate replacement to maintain infection control integrity.

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