Infection Control

A medical assistant should recognize that which of the following is recommended regarding fingernail care and hand hygiene?

• Wash hands under running water with the fingers pointing upward

• Keep reusable cloth towels at handwashing stations

• Trim natural fingernails to 1.27cm (0.5 in) past the tip of finger

• Remove artificial fingernails when working with high-risk populations

Which of the following steps should a medical assistant take to follow aseptic guidelines when administering injections?

• Don full personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Wipe the injection side with an alcohol pad

• Dispose of the syringe with the needle pointed upward

• Use the same needle for drawing and injecting

A medical assistant is cleaning a room following a surgical procedure. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure proper biohazardous waste handling of used gauze pads?

• Place the gauze pads in a red polyethylene bag

• Dispose of the gauze pads in a covered trash bin

• Soak the gauze pads in a sterilizing solution

• Place the gauze pads in a sharps container

Which of the following procedures requires a medical assistant to use aseptic technique?

• Cryosurgery

• Sonogram

• Sigmoidoscopy

• Suturing

Which of the following disposal methods should a medical assistant use in accordance with OSHA guidelines for handling biohazardous waste?

• Dispose of soiled bandages in a covered trash receptacle

• Contact a local waste management company for disposal instructions

• Label chemicals with their names and data before disposal

• Place used syringes in a red biohazard bag

According to CDC recommendations, what is the minimum length of time a medical assistant should spend scrubbing his hands with soap and water when performing hand hygiene?

• 10 seconds

• 15 seconds

• 20 seconds

• 25 seconds

A medical assistant is preparing to sterilize a vaginal speculum. Which of the following sterilization techniques should the assistant use?

• Ultrasonic

• Gas

• Autoclave

• Ionizing radiation

A medical assistant is washing infectious debris off several sharp surgical instruments. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

• Keep all hinged instruments closed

• Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the surface of the instruments

• Soak the instrument in a bleach solution to sterilize them prior to sanitization

• Wear utility gloves while sanitizing the instruments

Which of the following statements about alcohol-based hand sanitizer is correct?

• Hand sanitizer should be used when there is visible debris on the hands

• Hand sanitizer should have at least 50% alcohol content

• Hand sanitizer should be used in conjunction with a bleach solution

• Hand sanitizer should be applied to dry hands

A medical assistant is loading prepackaged hemostats into an autoclave. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure sterilization?

• Layer the packages so that they overlap one another

• Alternate the packages with unwrapped instruments

• Organize the packages loosely without touching the walls of the autoclave

• Submerge the packages in disinfectant before placement in the autoclave