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Certified Medical Assistant — Practice Exam

Infection control: practice questions

Our Medical Assistant bank has 18 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

What is the chain of infection?

  1. Hand washing, gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection and disposal
  2. Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host
  3. Exposure, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and follow-up care
  4. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, prions and other pathogens
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B. Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host — Breaking any link prevents infection.

Question 2

What is the difference between sanitization and sterilization?

  1. Sanitization kills all spores; sterilization only removes visible dirt
  2. They mean the same thing and the terms can be used interchangeably
  3. Sanitization reduces microorganisms; sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life
  4. Sanitization is done in an autoclave; sterilization is done by hand washing
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C. Sanitization reduces microorganisms; sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life — Disinfection lies between the two.

Question 3

How is sterilization verified most reliably?

  1. By counting the minutes on the timer
  2. With autoclave tape on the outside of each pack
  3. With biological indicators (spore tests)
  4. By checking that instruments are hot
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C. With biological indicators (spore tests) — Spore tests are run regularly, often weekly.

Question 4

What should be done if a sterile field becomes wet?

  1. Turn the drape over and use the other side
  2. Continue, since moisture doesn't affect sterility
  3. Blot it dry with a sterile gauze and continue
  4. Consider it contaminated and set up a new field
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D. Consider it contaminated and set up a new field — Moisture wicks microorganisms through the drape (strike-through).

Question 5

Why should instruments be sanitized before they are placed in the autoclave?

  1. Sanitizing makes the instruments sharper
  2. Debris speeds up the sterilization cycle
  3. Debris can shield microorganisms from the steam
  4. The autoclave cannot start a cycle with dry instruments inside
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C. Debris can shield microorganisms from the steam — Clean, rinse and dry instruments first.

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