nurseaptitude.ie

← Fundamentals and patient safety

Infection prevention and control: RCSI aptitude test practice questions

About this topic

Infection prevention and control on the RCSI theory paper

Hand hygiene and the 5 Moments, standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE order, sharps, waste segregation.

42 multiple-choice questions, each with an explanation and the document it was checked against. Three questions are free; the pass opens the other 39 and every other topic. Wrong answers come back first the next time you practise, and a question counts as mastered after two correct answers in a row.

Sample questions from this topic

  1. Question 1

    Why is an ICU patient with a urinary catheter and an IV line at particular risk from carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella (CPE)?

    1. ACPE grows on the plastic of any device and releases a toxin into the air of the room
    2. BDevices and intensive care raise infection risk, and common antibiotics do not work on CPE
    3. CThe ventilator warms the air and Klebsiella survives best above body temperature
    4. DCatheterised patients cannot be given antibiotics by mouth, so infection is untreatable
    Show answer

    Answer: B. HSE: CPE live harmlessly in the gut but cause serious infection if they get into the blood, kidneys, bladder or body tissues, and the risk is higher after major surgery, with a medical device such as a catheter or IV line, during cancer treatment and in an intensive care or transplant unit. Common antibiotics usually will not work, so a specific type of antibiotic is needed. Hospital patients may be screened with a stool sample or rectal swab, may need their own room, and hand hygiene stops the spread; the HPSC lists Klebsiella among the Enterobacteriaceae that carry carbapenemase genes.

    Source: HSE: CPE (carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales); HPSC: Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)

  2. Question 2

    What is Moment 1 of the WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene?

    1. AAfter touching patient surroundings
    2. BAfter body fluid exposure risk
    3. CBefore a clean or aseptic procedure
    4. DBefore touching a patient
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The five moments in order: 1 before touching a patient, 2 before a clean or aseptic procedure, 3 after body fluid exposure risk, 4 after touching a patient, 5 after touching patient surroundings. Moment 1 protects the patient from germs carried on your hands.

    Source: WHO: Your 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene (2009)

  3. Question 3

    A nurse is about to insert a urinary catheter. Which WHO hand hygiene moment applies immediately before the procedure?

    1. AMoment 1: before touching a patient
    2. BMoment 2: before a clean or aseptic procedure
    3. CMoment 4: after touching a patient
    4. DMoment 5: after touching patient surroundings
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Moment 2 is immediately before performing a clean or aseptic procedure, to protect the patient against harmful germs, including the patient’s own, entering the body. It applies even if you cleaned your hands on approaching the patient.

    Source: WHO: Your 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene (2009)

The practice above shuffles the options each time and keeps your score. 30 more free questions across the paper, with a PDF.

Documents behind these questions

Every fact was checked against the public document named on the answer. This topic draws on:

Tell us what would make this better

Or write to hello@nurseaptitude.ie