A10

Question 1

What is the best way to prevent infection from spreading

Answer 1

Washing hands regularly with warm water and soap

Question 2

Why is handwashing essential in healthcare and what does it prevent

Answer 2

It is essential as the hands pass on infection and can pick up germs from 1 place and transfer them to another

Question 3

When should you wash your hands

Answer 3

Before patient contact
Before a clean/aseptic procedure
After body fluid exposure risk
After patient contact
After contact with patient surroundings

Question 4

Examples of PPE

Answer 4

Masks
Aprons
Gloves
Hairnets

Question 5

When using cleaning or disinfecting agents healthcare workers must be sure to

Answer 5

Follow manufacturers instructions
Never goes how much to dilute a disinfectant
Wear PPE
Ensure adequate ventilation
Never use two disinfectants together as this may result in a chemical reaction
Do not ‘top up’ solutions

Question 6

What is the best practice for disinfectant

Answer 6

Diluted chlorine based product e.g. bleach

Question 7

What goes in yellow bins with a lid

Answer 7

Sharps

Question 8

What do used sharps get disposed in

Answer 8

A yellow bin with a lid

Question 9

What goes in yellow waste bags

Answer 9

Highly infectious waste
Anatomical waste

Question 10

What colour bags do highly infectious waste go in

Answer 10

Yellow

Question 11

What goes in blue clinical waste bags

Answer 11

Waste medicines
Out of date medicines

Question 12

What colour bags do waste medicines go in

Answer 12

Blue

Question 13

What goes in orange plastic bags

Answer 13

General infectious waste
Soiled dressings

Question 14

What colour bags do general infectious waste go in

Answer 14

Orange plastic bags

Question 15

What goes in a sharps bin with an orange lid

Answer 15

Sharps not contaminated with medicines

Question 16

Where do sharps not contaminated with medicinal products go

Answer 16

Sharps bin with an orange lid

Question 17

What goes in yellow and black striped bags

Answer 17

Offensive/hygiene waste which is not infectious
Clinical waste

Question 18

What colour bags does offensive/hygiene waste which is not infectious go in

Answer 18

Yellow and black striped bags

Question 19

What goes in black plastic bags

Answer 19

General waste

Question 20

What colour bags does general waste go in

Answer 20

Black plastic bags

Question 21

What goes in sharps bins with purple lids

Answer 21

Sharps used to administer cytotoxic or cytostatic
Used in cancer treatments

Question 22

What do sharps used in cancer treatment go in

Answer 22

Sharps bins with purple lids

Question 23

What goes in red clinical waste bags

Answer 23

Body parts, organs, blood bags

Question 24

What bags do organs, body parts and blood bags go in

Answer 24

Red clinical waste bins

Question 25

Examples of reportable infectious diseases

Answer 25

Smallpox Measles Plague Food poisoning Scarlett fever

Question 26

What does cleaning do

Answer 26

Reduces the presence of microorganisms on surfaces and instruments

Question 27

What does disinfecting do

Answer 27

Reduces rage number of microorganisms on surfaces to a level that is considered safe

Question 28

What is more effective heat or chemical disinfectant

Answer 28

Heat

Question 29

What are the required times for thermal disinfectants

Answer 29

65 for 10 minutes 71 for 3 minutes 80 for 1 minute 90 for 1 second

Question 30

What is decontamination

Answer 30

The process or combination of processes such as cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising that removes or destroys contaminants so that infectious agents cannot cause infection

Question 31

What is an autoclave

Answer 31

Steam sterilisation The use of pressured steam to kill infectious agents and denature proteins

Question 32

What is the red colour code used for

Answer 32

Cleaning bathrooms, washrooms, showers, toilets, basins and bathroom floors

Question 33

What is the blue colour code used for

Answer 33

General areas including wards, departments, offices

Question 34

What is the green colour code used for

Answer 34

Catering departments, ward kitchen areas and patient food service at ward level

Question 35

What is the yellow colour code used for

Answer 35

Isolation

Question 36

What are the essential rules for safe cleaning procedures

Answer 36

Use the correct colour for each area Ensure cleaning equipment is stored away clean and dry Change cleaning cloths at least daily Change and launder mop heads daily Use cleaning agents or detergents adhering to COSHH regulations

Question 37

What does vacuuming do

Answer 37

Reduces the amount of dust and bacteria such as spores that are airborne Considered highly effective in reducing the spread of infection

Question 38

What are cleaning agents used for

Answer 38

Large amounts of microorganisms from a surface can be removed using a neutral detergent and warm water Microorganisms reduce further as surface dries Devices cannot be disinfected or sterilised without having been thoroughly cleaned

Question 39

What are disinfectant agents used for

Answer 39

Bleach has a lot of clinical uses in healthcare Prevents the spread of infection among healthcare workers and patients

Question 40

How can you sterilise a surface

Answer 40

Physical or chemical Physical= heat, irritation, filtration Chemical= liquid, gaseous

Question 41

How does high pressure sterilisation work

Answer 41

High temperatures and pressure generated by water steam kill pathogens

Question 42

How does application of heat work to kill pathogens

Answer 42

High temperature in dry conditions without any water or steam to kill the microorganisms Works by oxidising the molecules, leading to the organisms death

Question 43

How does irrigation and filtration work

Answer 43

Filtration does not destroy microbial contaminants but removes them Irritation= exposing surfaces and objects to radiation

Question 44

Explain the importance of having a national colour coding scheme for the nhs

Answer 44

Provides consistency and prevents mistakes being made with cleaning

Question 45

Why should HEPA filters be used on vacuum cleaners within healthcare settings

Answer 45

They provide superior filtration to remove the most dust and microorganisms

Question 46

What are the 3 methods of sterilisation

Answer 46

Application of: heat , chemicals, high pressure

Question 47

What is microbial resistance

Answer 47

The ability of a microorganism to survive exposure to anti microbial agents

Question 48

What is horizontal gene transfer

Answer 48

The transfer of genetic material directly from one organism to another by various processes, without reproduction

Question 49

What is a superbug example

Answer 49

MRSA C diff