Under the BMW Rules 2016, discarded laboratory cultures and stocks of micro-organisms must be:

Pre-treated on site, then yellow-bagged

Placed in the red bag untreated

Put in the blue box for recycling

After caring for a patient on airborne precautions, the nurse removes her N95 respirator:

After leaving the room and closing the door

At the bedside, before leaving the room

Standard precautions are meant to be used:

With every patient, whatever the diagnosis

Only with patients known to have HIV

Only after a positive culture report

Infection control, asepsis and biomedical waste

35 Staff nurse recruitment practice questions on Infection control, asepsis and biomedical waste, part of Fundamentals of Nursing. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
Before inserting a central venous catheter, the skin is best prepared with:
1. AChlorhexidine in alcohol
2. BPovidone-iodine in water
3. CPlain 70% alcohol
4. DHydrogen peroxide 3%
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Answer: A · Chlorhexidine in alcohol
An alcohol-based chlorhexidine solution, such as 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol, is the preferred skin antiseptic for central line insertion. The alcohol kills quickly and chlorhexidine binds to the skin and keeps acting for hours. It must be allowed to dry fully before the puncture. It lowers catheter-related bloodstream infections more than aqueous povidone-iodine.
- B: Aqueous povidone-iodine is an alternative only if chlorhexidine cannot be used.
- C: Alcohol alone kills fast but has no lasting action on the skin.
- D: Hydrogen peroxide is not a skin antiseptic for line insertion.
Question 2 · Medium
Under the BMW Rules 2016, discarded laboratory cultures and stocks of micro-organisms must be:
1. APlaced in the red bag untreated
2. BPut in the blue box for recycling
3. CPre-treated on site, then yellow-bagged
4. DSent untreated in a black bag
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Answer: C · Pre-treated on site, then yellow-bagged
Microbiology and laboratory waste, such as cultures, stocks and blood bags, falls in the yellow category. Because it holds large numbers of live organisms, the rules require it to be disinfected or sterilised on site, as per WHO or NACO guidelines, before it leaves the laboratory. It then goes in the yellow bag for incineration. This protects waste handlers on the way to the treatment facility.
- A: The red bag is for recyclable plastic, not cultures.
- B: The blue box is for glassware and metal implants, not live cultures.
- D: Black bags are for general waste, and cultures must never leave untreated.
Question 3 · Medium
The BMW Rules 2016 require that bags and containers of biomedical waste leaving the facility carry a:
1. AHandwritten nurse's signature
2. BBar code label
3. CRed cross symbol
4. DPatient's name and bed number
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Answer: B · Bar code label
Each bag or container must carry the biohazard or cytotoxic symbol and a bar code label, so that it can be tracked from the ward to the common treatment facility. The bar code system makes it possible to trace any bag back to the hospital that produced it. This deters illegal dumping and resale of waste. Patient names are never written on waste bags, for confidentiality.
- A: A signature does not allow tracking along the disposal chain.
- C: The red cross is not a waste symbol; the biohazard symbol is used.
- D: Patient details on waste would breach confidentiality.
Question 4 · Medium
After caring for a patient on airborne precautions, the nurse removes her N95 respirator:
1. ABefore removing her gloves
2. BAfter leaving the room and closing the door
3. CAt the bedside, before leaving the room
4. DBefore removing her gown
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Answer: B · After leaving the room and closing the door
Gloves, gown and goggles are removed at the doorway or in the anteroom, but the respirator is taken off only after leaving the room with the door closed. Inside the room the air may still hold infectious droplet nuclei. The respirator is removed by its straps without touching the front. Hand hygiene follows.
- A: Gloves are the most contaminated item and are removed first, not after the respirator.
- C: Removing it at the bedside exposes the nurse to the room air.
- D: The gown comes off before the respirator, not after.
Question 5 · Medium
Standard precautions are meant to be used:
1. AWith every patient, whatever the diagnosis
2. BOnly with patients known to have HIV
3. COnly after a positive culture report
4. DOnly in the operation theatre
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Answer: A · With every patient, whatever the diagnosis
Standard precautions treat the blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, non-intact skin and mucous membranes of every patient as possibly infectious. Many infected patients have no diagnosis yet, so precautions based on known status would miss them. They include hand hygiene, PPE chosen by the expected exposure, safe sharps handling, respiratory etiquette and safe injection practice. Transmission-based precautions are added on top when a specific infection is suspected.
- B: Waiting for a known diagnosis misses the many patients who are infected but untested.
- C: Culture results take days, and protection is needed from the first contact.
- D: Exposure to blood and body fluids happens on every ward, not only in theatre.
Question 6 · Medium
After a needle-stick injury from an HIV-positive source, post-exposure prophylaxis under NACO guidelines is taken for:
1. A7 days
2. B3 months
3. C28 days
4. D6 months
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Hard
A child with chickenpox is admitted. Which nurse is the most suitable to care for him?
1. AOne with a past history of chickenpox
2. BOne who never had chickenpox or vaccine
3. COne taking oral steroids for asthma
4. DOne who is 12 weeks pregnant
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Medium
Which low-temperature sterilisation method leaves no toxic residue, so items need no aeration time?
1. AHydrogen peroxide gas plasma
2. BEthylene oxide gas
3. CFormaldehyde vapour
4. DGlutaraldehyde soaking
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Medium
In the Spaulding classification, a reusable laryngoscope blade is a semi-critical item. It needs at least:
1. AWiping with 70% alcohol
2. BLow-level disinfection
3. CCleaning with soap only
4. DHigh-level disinfection
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Easy
Under the BMW Rules 2016, untreated biomedical waste may be stored in the hospital for no longer than:
1. A72 hours
2. B12 hours
3. C48 hours
4. D7 days
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Hard
A reusable flexible bronchoscope has just been used on a patient. Before it is placed in high-level disinfectant, the first step is:
1. ASoaking in disinfectant for one hour
2. BRinsing in tap water and drying
3. CWiping the outside with 70% alcohol
4. DThorough manual cleaning of all channels
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Hard
A newly joined nurse who has never been vaccinated against hepatitis B gets a needle-stick injury from an HBsAg-positive patient. After first aid, the correct plan is:
1. AHBIG and the first vaccine dose at once
2. BHBIG only, with no vaccination
3. CVaccine only, at the next routine clinic
4. DA repeat HBsAg test after six months only
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Easy
Cleaning and disinfection of a room, its bed and equipment after an infectious patient is discharged is called:
1. AConcurrent disinfection
2. BTerminal disinfection
3. CProphylactic disinfection
4. DPrecurrent disinfection
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Easy
Moist heat in an autoclave kills micro-organisms mainly by:
1. ACoagulating their proteins
2. BDissolving the cell wall lipids
3. COxidising cell components
4. DBreaking DNA with radiation
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Medium
A patient has an MRSA-infected surgical wound. During wound care the nurse should mainly follow:
1. AProtective isolation for the patient
2. BDroplet precautions with a mask
3. CAirborne precautions with an N95
4. DContact precautions with gown and gloves
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Hard
A pack taken out of the autoclave at the end of the cycle has a changed indicator tape but damp patches on its wrapper. What should the nurse do?
1. AUse it once the wrapper is dry
2. BTreat it as unsterile and reprocess it
3. CDry it in the hot air oven, then use
4. DUse it, as the tape has changed
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Easy
The BMW Rules 2016 require the coloured bags used for biomedical waste to be made of:
1. AWaxed paper
2. BNon-chlorinated plastic
3. CRecycled black polythene
4. DChlorinated PVC plastic
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Hard
A staff nurse gets a deep needle-stick injury from a patient known to be HIV-positive on treatment. She washed the site and reports to casualty five hours later. What should happen next?
1. AStart PEP only if her HIV test is positive
2. BStart PEP now and test her HIV status
3. CWait for the source's viral load first
4. DGive no PEP, as two hours have passed
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Medium
A nurse removes her gloves after collecting a blood sample. Before leaving the bedside, she should:
1. APut on fresh gloves for the next task
2. BSkip hand hygiene as gloves were worn
3. CPerform hand hygiene at once
4. DWash hands only if blood is seen
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Hard
In the Spaulding classification, which pairing of an item with its minimum reprocessing level is correct?
1. AUrinary catheter: sterilisation
2. BLaryngoscope blade: cleaning only
3. CSurgical forceps: high-level disinfection
4. DCystoscope: low-level disinfection
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Medium
If a needle must be recapped, as with a drawn-up dose to be carried to the bedside, the safe way is the:
1. AOne-handed scoop method
2. BHolding the cap between fingers
3. CBending the needle first
4. DTwo-handed recapping method
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Easy
Under the BMW Rules 2016, a used urinary drainage bag and catheter (no sharps attached) are discarded into the:
1. AYellow bag
2. BWhite container
3. CBlue box
4. DRed bag
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Easy
The white container for sharps under the BMW Rules 2016 must be:
1. ATranslucent, puncture-proof and leak-proof
2. BCardboard, with blue markings
3. CBlack, sealed with a cloth cover
4. DOpaque, soft and easy to fold
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Medium
When pouring a sterile solution into a sterile bowl, the nurse first pours a small amount into a waste container in order to:
1. AMeasure the flow rate
2. BCheck the solution's colour
3. CWarm the solution slightly
4. DClean the lip of the bottle
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Medium
Boiling instruments in water at 100 °C for 10-20 minutes is classed as disinfection, not sterilisation, because it:
1. AKills only fungi and their spores
2. BDoes not kill vegetative bacteria
3. CDoes not reliably kill bacterial spores
4. DLeaves chemical residue on metal
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

10 more Infection control, asepsis and biomedical waste questions

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Study Fundamentals of Nursing

Infection control, asepsis and biomedical waste

Before inserting a central venous catheter, the skin is best prepared with:

Under the BMW Rules 2016, discarded laboratory cultures and stocks of micro-organisms must be:

The BMW Rules 2016 require that bags and containers of biomedical waste leaving the facility carry a:

After caring for a patient on airborne precautions, the nurse removes her N95 respirator:

Standard precautions are meant to be used:

After a needle-stick injury from an HIV-positive source, post-exposure prophylaxis under NACO guidelines is taken for:

A child with chickenpox is admitted. Which nurse is the most suitable to care for him?

Which low-temperature sterilisation method leaves no toxic residue, so items need no aeration time?

In the Spaulding classification, a reusable laryngoscope blade is a semi-critical item. It needs at least:

Under the BMW Rules 2016, untreated biomedical waste may be stored in the hospital for no longer than:

A reusable flexible bronchoscope has just been used on a patient. Before it is placed in high-level disinfectant, the first step is:

A newly joined nurse who has never been vaccinated against hepatitis B gets a needle-stick injury from an HBsAg-positive patient. After first aid, the correct plan is:

Cleaning and disinfection of a room, its bed and equipment after an infectious patient is discharged is called:

Moist heat in an autoclave kills micro-organisms mainly by:

A patient has an MRSA-infected surgical wound. During wound care the nurse should mainly follow:

A pack taken out of the autoclave at the end of the cycle has a changed indicator tape but damp patches on its wrapper. What should the nurse do?

The BMW Rules 2016 require the coloured bags used for biomedical waste to be made of:

A staff nurse gets a deep needle-stick injury from a patient known to be HIV-positive on treatment. She washed the site and reports to casualty five hours later. What should happen next?

A nurse removes her gloves after collecting a blood sample. Before leaving the bedside, she should:

In the Spaulding classification, which pairing of an item with its minimum reprocessing level is correct?

If a needle must be recapped, as with a drawn-up dose to be carried to the bedside, the safe way is the:

Under the BMW Rules 2016, a used urinary drainage bag and catheter (no sharps attached) are discarded into the:

The white container for sharps under the BMW Rules 2016 must be:

When pouring a sterile solution into a sterile bowl, the nurse first pours a small amount into a waste container in order to:

Boiling instruments in water at 100 °C for 10-20 minutes is classed as disinfection, not sterilisation, because it: