Block 9 Micro Infection Control

1. A 45-year-old government virologist has been accidentally exposed to smallpox virus after a breach in a secure level 4 laboratory. Which precaution, not part of the standard precaution protocol, would be applied during the observation and treatment of this patient?

Isolation in a room with reduced pressure

Hand sanitizing before and after patient contact

Bathing cyf the patient in benzalkoniurri chloride

Bathing of the patient in ethylene oxide

Masks within 3 feet of the patient

A negative-pressure or AIIR room would be required for this aerosol-transmissible pathogen

Explanation

A negative-pressure or AIIR room would be required for this aerosol-transmissible pathogen

About This Quiz

Pathogenic Microbiology Quizzes & Trivia

Explore key infection control strategies in medical settings through scenarios involving decontamination, isolation precautions, and pathogen identification. This quiz assesses knowledge essential for preventing hospital-acquired infections and managing biohazard exposure effectively.

2. What's your name?

We’ll put your name on your report, certificate, and leaderboard.

2. A 63-year-old woman is being artificially ventilated after ingestion of botulinum toxin from improperly canned tomatoes. She was healthy prior to this incident. Three days after intubation, the patient develops a respiratory infection. What terminology best describes the type of infection, and what is the most likely causative agent?

Hospital-acquired; Enterococcus faecalis

Hospital-acquired; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Community-acquired; Legionella pneumophila

Community-acquired; Enterococcus faecalis

Community-acquired; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Hospital-acquired; Legionella pneumophila

The timing indicates a hospital-acquired infection, and P. aeruginosa is often a cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Explanation

The timing indicates a hospital-acquired infection, and P. aeruginosa is often a cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

3. An isolate you have submitted for susceptibility testing is reported to be resistant to erythromycin (a macrolide), gentamycin (an aminoglycoside) and tetracycline. If this isolate is a Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, lactose-fermenting, sorbitol non- fermenting rod, what type of precautions should be taken in a health-care setting?

Standard plus contact plus droplet

Standard plus aerosol

Standard plus contact

Standard plus droplet

Standard

Antibiotic-resistant organisms require contact precautions, even if the organism itself does not.

Explanation

Antibiotic-resistant organisms require contact precautions, even if the organism itself does not.

4. A 30-year-old man presents to his physician with a dry cough, fever and headache. He admitted to having the cough for over a week. Chest X-ray showed infiltrates but no consolidation. The physician suspected infection with a small, wall-less bacterium. What precaution should be taken with this patient?

Sterilizing all equipment used on the patient

Mask within 3 ft of patient

Dedicated equipment for the patient

Use of N-95 respirator mask

Admit patient to hospital

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes atypical pneumonia, and is transmissible in droplets.

Explanation

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes atypical pneumonia, and is transmissible in droplets.

5. An infection control committee is discussing protocols related to infections caused by a particular virus. The infectious disease fellow points out that th is virus is susceptible to many disinfectants, including alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds. To what family does the virus in question belong?

Picornaviridae

Reoviridae

Herpesviridae

Adenoviridae

Papillomaviride

Enveloped viruses are susceptible to compounds that damage membranes. The other virus classes listed are not.

Explanation

Enveloped viruses are susceptible to compounds that damage membranes. The other virus classes listed are not.

6. A 58-year-old man is admitted to the ICU after suffering a stroke. Six days later, it is noted that his urine is cloudy, and he has become febrile. What are the characteristics of the most likely causative agent?

Gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci in pairs and chains

Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, coagulase-positive rod

Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, lactose-fermenting rod

Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, lactose-negative, urease-negative rod

Gram-negative, oxidase-positive diplococcus

coli is the most common cause of UTIs (catheter- associated or not).

Explanation

coli is the most common cause of UTIs (catheter- associated or not).

7. A 15-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department after a car accident. He has multiple contusions, broken bones, and burns to the upper torso. What method of decontamination would be appropriate to treat a stethoscope (usually a non-critical piece of equipment) being used on this patient?

Ethylene oxide

70% alcohol

Benzalkonium chloride

Auto-claving

Lodophor

The burns on the upper torso of the patient mean that a high-level disinfectant or a sterilant required for equipment that will contact that area.

Explanation

The burns on the upper torso of the patient mean that a high-level disinfectant or a sterilant required for equipment that will contact that area.

8. A patient in the ICU develops diarrhea after several days of treatment with broad- spectrum antibiotics for a severe infection. The causative agent is found to be a Gram- positive, strictly anaerobic rod that produces an enterotoxin (called toxin A) that affects a target host cell's ability to polymerize actin. Which of the following interventions will help to prevent transmission of this pathogen to others?

Cleaning a toilet with an isopropanol-based cleaner

Treating all surfaces with a quaternary ammonium compound-based disinfectant

HEPA-filtering room air

Using hand sanitizer

Autoclaving bed linens

Autoclave conditions will kill the resistant endospores of Clostridium difficile, preventing their transmission to the next patient.

Explanation

Autoclave conditions will kill the resistant endospores of Clostridium difficile, preventing their transmission to the next patient.