Hand Hygiene Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire
The Hand Hygiene Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) presents a series of seven true–false and multiple choice questions focused on these areas. Use this questionnaire to periodically survey clinical staff about their knowledge of key elements of hand hygiene. For more information on hand hygiene and infection prevention, please visit the Deb Group blog and sign-up for weekly updates.
- 1.In which of the following situations should hand hygiene be performed? A. Before having direct contact with a patient B. Before inserting an invasive device (e.g., intravascular catheter, foley catheter) C. When moving from a contaminated body site to a clean body site during an episode of patient care D. After having direct contact with a patient or with items in the immediate vicinity of the patient E. After removing gloves
- A.
B and E
- B.
A, B and D
- C.
B, D and E
- D.
All of the above
- 2.If hands are not visibly soiled or visibly contaminated with blood or other proteinaceous material, which of the following regimens is the most effective for reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria on the hands of personnel?
- A.
Washing hands with plain soap and water
- B.
Washing hands with an antimicrobial soap and water
- C.
Applying 1.5 ml to 3 ml of alcohol-based hand rub to the hands and rubbing hands together until they feel dry
- 3.How are antibiotic-resistant pathogens most frequently spread from one patient to another in health care settings?
- A.
Airborne spread resulting from patients coughing or sneezing
- B.
Patients coming in contact with contaminated equipment
- C.
From one patient to another via the contaminated hands of clinical staff
- D.
Poor environmental maintenance
- 4.Which of the following infections can be potentially transmitted from patients to clinical staff if appropriate glove use and hand hygiene are not performed?
- A.
Herpes simplex virus infection
- B.
Colonization or infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- C.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection
- D.
Hepatitis B virus infection
- E.
All of the above
- 5.Clostridium difficile (the cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea) is readily killed by alcohol-based hand hygiene products.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 6.Which of the following pathogens readily survive in the environment of the patient for days to weeks? A. E. coli B. Klebsiella spp. C. Clostridium difficile (the cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea) D. Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) E. Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
- A.
A and D
- B.
A and B
- C.
C, D, E
- D.
All of the above
- 7.Which of the following statements about alcohol-based hand hygiene products is accurate?
- A.
They dry the skin more than repeated handwashing with soap and water
- B.
They cause more allergy and skin intolerance than chlorhexidine gluconate products
- C.
They cause stinging of the hands in some providers due to pre-existing skin irritation
- D.
They are effective even when the hands are visibly soiled
- E.
They kill bacteria less rapidly than chlorhexidine gluconate and other antiseptic containing soaps
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