1. What are the three main modes of transmission of infectious agents in health care

settings? (Answer: Contact, droplet, and airborne)

2. What is the difference between standard precautions and transmission-based

precautions? (Answer: Standard precautions are the basic level of infection control that

should be used for all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection

status. Transmission-based precautions are additional measures that should be used for

patients with known or suspected infections that can spread through contact, droplet,

or airborne routes.)

3. What are the four components of standard precautions? (Answer: Hand hygiene,

personal protective equipment, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and safe

injection practices)

4. When should you perform hand hygiene in health care settings? (Answer: Before and

after any direct contact with patients or their environment, before performing any

invasive or aseptic procedures, after exposure to blood or body fluids, after removing

gloves or other personal protective equipment, and whenever hands are visibly soiled)

5. What are the two methods of hand hygiene and when should you use each one?

(Answer: Hand washing with soap and water and hand rubbing with alcohol-based

hand rub. Hand washing should be used when hands are visibly soiled, after exposure

to spore-forming organisms such as Clostridium difficile, or when caring for patients

with norovirus or other viral gastroenteritis. Hand rubbing should be used in all other

situations when hand hygiene is indicated.)

6. What are the types of personal protective equipment (PPE) and what are their purposes?

(Answer: Gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and face shields. Gloves protect the

hands from exposure to blood or body fluids. Gowns protect the clothing and skin

from contamination. Masks protect the nose and mouth from inhalation of droplets or

aerosols. Eye protection and face shields protect the eyes and face from splashes or