Infection control & patient safety worksheet with answers

An adult’s platelet count is 40,000/mm³ (40 × 10⁹/L). What does this mean?

1. AA raised platelet count with a risk of clots
2. BThrombocytopenia with a raised risk of bleeding
3. CA low count that only matters during surgery
4. DA normal platelet count for an adult

When is hand hygiene needed in relation to wearing gloves?

1. AOnly if the gloves are torn
2. BOnly before putting gloves on
3. CNever, because gloves replace hand hygiene
4. DBefore putting gloves on and after taking them off

Which medication is a high-alert medication?

1. AAcetaminophen (paracetamol) tablets
2. BMultivitamin tablets
3. CInsulin
4. DLactulose syrup

Which practice reduces back strain when a nurse moves a patient or heavy object?

1. ABend at the waist and keep both knees straight
2. BHold the load at arm’s length to keep it steady
3. CKeep the load close to the body and avoid twisting
4. DStand with the feet close together for balance

Why are some patients screened with a nasal swab for MRSA on admission?

1. ATo find carriers so precautions or decolonization can be used
2. BTo diagnose a sinus infection
3. CTo measure the patient’s immunity to MRSA
4. DTo check whether the patient is allergic to penicillin before surgery

Which measure reduces errors caused by interruptions during medication preparation?

1. AAnswering phone calls and pages while counting tablets, to save time
2. BPreparing medications at the busiest place on the ward
3. CA quiet “no interruption” zone or signal while preparing medications
4. DPreparing medications for all patients at once

A patient on airborne precautions needs an urgent CT scan. Which plan is correct?

1. APatient goes unmasked, and the CT room is cleaned the next day
2. BPatient wears an N95 respirator, so staff need no protection
3. CThe scan is postponed until the patient is no longer infectious
4. DPatient masked, CT warned in advance, staff in respirators

A nurse finds a patient lying on the floor next to the bed. What should the nurse do first?

1. ALift the patient back into bed with a colleague
2. BComplete an incident report while the details are fresh
3. CAssess the patient for injury before moving them
4. DTelephone the family to tell them about the fall