Lesson 6.6.2

6.6.2 Hospital-acquired infection and codes of practice Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield), Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.6.2, Hospital-acquired infection and codes of practice: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BI0), Unit 6: Immunity, Infection and Forensics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which is a common cause of hospital-acquired infection?

    • Infection from the patient's own gut flora, which never causes disease in any setting
    • Infection from the hospital food, which is always sterile and so cannot transmit bacteria
    • Transmission of bacteria from staff hands, equipment or the environment to vulnerable patients
    • Infection from the air conditioning, which removes all pathogens before they reach patients

  2. Which practice is most important for reducing the spread of hospital-acquired infection?

    • Wearing the same gloves for all patients on a ward to reduce the number of gloves used
    • Allowing visitors unrestricted access to all wards at all times, to keep patients cheerful
    • Storing all antibiotics in patient rooms, so they can be used immediately when needed
    • Thorough hand washing or use of alcohol gel by staff before and after patient contact

  3. Antibiotic overuse in hospitals is problematic mainly because it:

    • Stops the production of all antibodies, which means no vaccines can ever work again
    • Destroys the human immune system, leaving patients open to all infections for the rest of their lives
    • Selects for resistant bacteria, which then become harder to treat in future infections
    • Kills all bacteria in the hospital, which removes the need for hygiene measures entirely

  4. Which bacterium is a well-known cause of hospital-acquired infection that is resistant to many antibiotics?

    • Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is a commensal bacterium used in dairy products and never causes infection
    • Bacillus subtilis, which forms spores and is used in biological washing powders
    • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA
    • Escherichia coli strain K12, which is used as a harmless laboratory organism in all hospitals

  5. Why are patients on long-term catheters at higher risk of hospital-acquired infection?

    • Catheters contain lysozyme, which weakens the immune response in the surrounding tissues
    • Catheters make the skin produce more sweat, which carries bacteria into the body
    • Catheters remove gut flora, so pathogens can enter the body without competition
    • Catheters provide a route for bacteria to enter the bladder or bloodstream, bypassing skin barriers

  6. Which statement best describes the purpose of codes of practice on antibiotic prescribing?

    • They require all patients to receive the strongest antibiotic available in every case of illness
    • They prohibit all antibiotic use in hospitals, so that bacteria cannot develop resistance at all
    • They allow doctors to prescribe any antibiotic without restriction, provided the patient requests it
    • They promote prescribing only when needed, at the correct dose and duration, to limit resistance and protect patients

  7. Why are isolation rooms used for patients with some infections?

    • To increase the spread of infection so that all patients become immune at the same time
    • To limit transmission of the pathogen to other patients and staff through contact and airborne routes
    • To keep the patient cool, since fever caused by infection always requires isolation to reduce it
    • To give patients access to more antibiotics than are available in general wards in the hospital

  8. Which factor increases a patient's risk of hospital-acquired infection most directly?

    • Having a healthy diet and regular exercise throughout the length of the hospital stay
    • Being discharged from hospital within a short time after admission for a minor procedure
    • Impaired immune function or breaches to the skin, such as from surgery or invasive lines
    • Being treated in a single room with a window that opens to fresh air during the stay

  9. Cleaning and disinfection of hospital equipment is required because:

    • Disinfection makes pathogens more virulent, so equipment must be cleaned to prevent them
    • Equipment becomes more effective at killing bacteria if it is left dirty for several days
    • Equipment always contains antibiotics that need to be washed off before each use
    • Contaminated surfaces and instruments can transmit pathogens between patients if they are not properly decontaminated

  10. Which statement correctly defines a hospital-acquired infection?

    • They arise only in patients who have received a vaccine during the stay in the hospital
    • They often arise in patients whose hospital stay, treatment or immune status makes them vulnerable to pathogens present in the hospital
    • They arise only from viruses, since bacteria are removed completely by hospital cleaning
    • They arise only in patients who were already infected when they arrived at the hospital

  11. Which measure would most help to slow the spread of resistant bacteria in a hospital?

    • Increasing the number of antibiotics given to every patient, to kill any resistant bacteria present
    • Stopping all hand washing, since soap removes beneficial bacteria from the skin of staff
    • Antibiotic stewardship together with rigorous hygiene and isolation of colonised patients
    • Allowing unrestricted use of the same antibiotic for all infections, to maintain consistency

  12. A ward has a rising rate of infection after a new procedure. Which investigation would be most useful first?

    • Move all patients to a different hospital without first reviewing the procedure or practices
    • Stop all antibiotic prescribing, so that the bacteria in the ward cannot become resistant
    • Increase the number of visitors to the ward, so that the bacteria are diluted and less concentrated
    • Review the hygiene practice and equipment use associated with the procedure and check infection rates against them

  13. Which statement evaluates the claim that hospital infection control is only the responsibility of doctors?

    • The claim is accurate, since nurses and cleaners do not affect the spread of pathogens in hospitals
    • The claim is inaccurate, since infection control depends on all staff following codes of practice and hygiene routines
    • The claim is accurate, since only doctors are trained to understand the transmission of infection
    • The claim is inaccurate only for viral infections, since doctors control bacterial infections alone

  14. Which statement best describes the role of guidelines in preventing hospital-acquired infection?

    • They set standards for hygiene, antibiotic use and isolation so that practice is consistent across staff and wards
    • They reduce the number of hospital beds, which automatically reduces the number of infections
    • They replace the need for clinical judgement, so staff need never think about individual patient risk
    • They make hospital staff independent of the wards, so infections do not spread between departments

  15. Why are healthcare workers asked to wear gloves and aprons when caring for some patients?

    • To reduce transfer of pathogens between patients and surfaces during close contact
    • To prevent patients from feeling anxious when they see protective clothing during treatment
    • To ensure that patients cannot see the workers' faces while they are being examined
    • To keep their hands warm during a long shift, since warmth kills most bacteria on the skin

  16. Which statement describes Clostridioides difficile infection?

    • A skin infection spread by sweat from patients to staff during routine washing in the ward
    • A gut infection that can follow antibiotic use
    • A virus that infects red blood cells and is cleared by a single course of antibiotic treatment
    • A fungus that grows only on dry wounds in intensive care units and is killed by soap

  17. Why are high-touch surfaces such as bed rails and door handles prioritised for cleaning on wards?

    • These surfaces can be disinfected only with alcohol, so they need special cleaning routines
    • Cleaning these surfaces removes all antibiotics from the ward, which reduces resistance
    • Pathogens can grow only on these surfaces, so they are the only places where infection starts
    • Pathogens persist on them and can be transferred to many patients by hands

  18. A hospital audit finds that staff often skip hand washing before patient contact. Which action best follows from infection-control codes of practice?

    • Stop all patient contact by staff until infection rates fall to zero on the ward
    • Give more antibiotics to all patients on the ward, so that any infection is prevented in advance
    • Retrain staff and monitor hand hygiene compliance, with feedback to the ward team
    • Reduce hand washing to once per shift, which protects the skin of staff from irritation

  19. Which statement evaluates the use of single rooms as an infection control measure?

    • Single rooms help contain infection but must be combined with hygiene and staff practice to be effective
    • Single rooms eliminate all risk of infection, so other measures are unnecessary on the ward
    • Single rooms increase infection risk, because patients are less supervised when they are alone
    • Single rooms have no effect, because infections spread only through contaminated food and water

  20. Why do hospitals monitor antibiotic prescribing rates?

    • To replace laboratory culture when diagnosing infection, since prescribing rates are more accurate
    • To ensure every patient receives an antibiotic at least once during each hospital stay
    • To increase profits from antibiotic sales within the hospital's budget each financial year
    • To detect overuse, target stewardship and reduce selection for resistant bacteria

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