Hand Hygiene and Infection Control Quiz

Liz Burton-Hughes

June 16, 2020

5 min read

Test Your Hand Hygiene and Infection Control Knowledge

Good infection control and hand hygiene are important even in the best of times. It prevents the rapid spread of microorganisms that can cause illnesses, such as colds and flu, as well as food poisoning bacteria. However, as we all face the current COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining good personal hygiene is more vital than ever before. Understanding effective cleaning procedures and hand washing is crucial, particularly as businesses return to work and implement new safety measures to control COVID-19. If you work in a non-healthcare environment, you should be aware of the infection control and hand hygiene procedures that your workplace needs to follow in light of the virus. Test your knowledge about this topic with our quiz below.

Who is responsible for providing PPE in a workplace if it must be worn for health and safety reasons?

Employees

The Health and Safety Executive

The local council

The employer

Correct! Wrong!

Employers are responsible for sourcing and covering the cost of PPE in their workplace if it must be worn for health and safety reasons. They should also liaise with employees to ensure they pick suitable PPE, e.g. ensuring it's the right size.

What is an example of good respiratory hygiene?

Coughing or sneezing into your hands

Coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue

Wiping your eyes or mouth with your hands after coughing or sneezing to remove droplets

Wiping your hands on your clothes after coughing or sneezing to remove droplets

Correct! Wrong!

It's crucial that you practice good respiratory hygiene to prevent the spread of hazardous microorganisms. Coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, and washing your hands afterwards, is best practice.

People must self-isolate at home if they:

Experience an occasional cough and sneezing

Experience a high temperature, coughing, and loss of taste

Have worked around other people for five days straight without a break

Know a friend who is awaiting COVID-19 test results

Correct! Wrong!

If you experience symptoms such as a high temperature, coughing, and loss of taste, it's crucial for you to self isolate to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

What temperature should water be when you wash your hands?

It should be lukewarm, between 10 ºC and 20 ºC

It can be cold as long as you use enough soap

It should be hot, between 35 ºC and 45 ºC

It should be boiling

Correct! Wrong!

Water should be hot, between 35 ºC and 45 ºC, when you wash your hands. This is most effective for breaking down and removing contamination from your hands.

Why should you wash your hands before putting on gloves?

Because washed hands will make gloves more comfortable to wear

Because washed hands will make gloves more effective at preventing microorganisms

Because your unwashed hands will make wearing gloves unpleasant and less effective at not picking up germs

Because your unwashed hands can contaminate the surface of your clean gloves while putting them on

Correct! Wrong!

Putting on PPE with clean hands is important to prevent accidental contamination of its surface, which could then spread.

What is the chain of infection?

The eight steps involved in infections transferring from country to country

The four steps involved in a risk assessment to identify where infections may spread in a workplace

The six steps involved in spreading infections from one host to another

The seven steps involved in upholding social distancing and preventing infections from spreading

Correct! Wrong!

The chain of infection helps us to understand how infections spread between hosts. The six steps are 1. organism, 2. reservoir, 3. portal of exit, 4. mode of transportation, 5. portal of entry, and 6. vulnerable host.

What should you use to dry your hands after washing them?

You should avoid using disposable towels and instead shake your hands dry

Electric hand dryers or disposable paper towels

Electric hand dryers or reusable paper towels

Reusable fabric towels that are washed every so often

Correct! Wrong!

It's crucial to dry your hands hygienically after washing them. Using fabric towels for example can recontaminate your hands, as they can remain damp after use and harbour microorganisms.

What is a risk you should be aware of when wearing PPE?

It can prevent you from travelling on public transport

It can create a false sense of security and reduce hand washing frequency

It can be grounds for employers to prevent you from coming to work

It can cause panic to those around you

Correct! Wrong!

Wearing PPE does not guarantee complete safety from COVID-19. It can create a false sense of security that makes wearers think they will not be exposed to the virus. Be aware that you can still touch surfaces that others have sneezed or coughed on without a mask or from unwashed hands, and gloves can still spread microorganisms they pick up, such as to your phone that you later touch. Maintaining good personal hygiene by frequently washing your hands and not touching your mouth, nose, or eyes is therefore the most important way to prevent the virus from spreading.

When is the use of gloves in infection control vital?

At all times while you’re at work

When cleaning an area suspected of being contaminated with COVID-19

Only when you work in close proximity with colleagues

Only if you are in direct contact with customers, such as hairdressing

Correct! Wrong!

Using gloves when cleaning areas suspected of being contaminated with COVID-19 is essential to prevent accidental cross-contamination and to protect yourself. It also helps to keep your skin safe from irritants like cleaning chemicals.

How long should you wash your hands for?

At least 15 seconds

At least 10 seconds

At least 20 seconds

At least 5 seconds

Correct! Wrong!

It's crucial to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to allow the soap or sanitiser to do its work. Any less and you may not fully remove microorganisms.

How is COVID-19 spread from person to person?

Through infectious droplets that are constantly airborne

Through infectious droplets that contaminate hands and surfaces

Through infectious droplets that are transferred via radio waves

Through infectious droplets that can grow and multiply in food

Correct! Wrong!

Research shows that COVID-19 is spread through infectious droplets, which can easily contaminate hands and surfaces and rapidly spread. There is currently no evidence to show that the virus spreads in other ways, such as by staying in the air for prolonged periods of time or by multiplying in food.

Which of these steps is bad practice when removing a face mask?

Removing the mask by the strings, loops, or straps

Lifting the mask away rather than letting it flop down

Grabbing and pulling the central covering

Removing your glasses first to do so – you should keep them on

Correct! Wrong!

You should not remove face masks by grabbing and pulling them by the central covering, as any contamination on the cover of the mask could then contaminate your hands and spread. You should carefully remove them by the strings, loops, or straps from behind your ears or back of the head.

Hand Hygiene and Infection Control Quiz

Do you want the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce the spread of infection and illness? Take a look at our Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Training.