Hand Hygiene Self Assesment

Hand Hygiene in Neonatology – MCQs

1. What is the leading cause of hospital-acquired neonatal sepsis?

A. Unclean linen
B. Contaminated breastmilk
C. Healthcare workers’ hands
D. Poor ventilation

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2. Which of the following is the most common route for transmitting germs in a neonatal unit?

A. Intravenous lines
B. Contaminated formula
C. Direct contact via hands
D. Airborne spread

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3. Which surface in a neonatal unit is unlikely to be colonised with bacteria?

A. Nappies
B. Bed rails
C. Computer keyboards
D. None of the above

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4. Handwashing with soap and water is required when:

A. Entering a new cubicle
B. Hands are visibly soiled
C. After using alcohol rub
D. After using a mobile phone

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5. Alcohol-based hand rub works primarily by:

A. Masking the smell of bacteria
B. Evaporating and removing dirt
C. Drying and destroying bacterial cell walls
D. Neutralising viral RNA

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6. How long should alcohol hand rub be left on the hands before touching a baby?

A. Immediately
B. 5 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. At least 20 seconds

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7. Which part of the hand is most commonly missed during handwashing?

A. Palms
B. Fingertips and thumbs
C. Back of the hand
D. Wrists

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8. Chlorhexidine hand rub differs from alcohol hand rub in that it:

A. Takes less time to act
B. Has no residual activity
C. Provides long-lasting protection
D. Can be used on visibly dirty hands

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9. Which of the following viruses is NOT effectively killed by alcohol hand rub?

A. Influenza
B. Norovirus
C. Staphylococcus
D. Klebsiella

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10. When should hand rub be used in relation to touching a baby?

A. Only after
B. Only before
C. Before and after
D. Only if equipment was used

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11. Which of the following is true about alcohol hand rub?

A. It continues working for hours
B. It can remove dirt and faeces
C. It works immediately upon application
D. It decontaminates clean hands temporarily

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12. Why is hand hygiene especially critical in low-resource neonatal settings?

A. There is poor lighting
B. There is no risk of infection
C. It is the most effective way to reduce sepsis
D. Mothers often clean babies themselves

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13. Which country performed a study which demonstrated a 73% reduction in neonatal sepsis deaths through hand hygiene?

A. Nigeria
B. Ghana
C. Kenya
D. Malawi

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14. What should you do immediately after removing gloves and finishing care for a baby?

A. Write notes
B. Touch equipment
C. Use hand rub
D. Eat a snack

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15. Which of the following is NOT a recommended action after touching a contaminated surface?

A. Use hand rub
B. Wash with soap and water if soiled
C. Touch the baby directly
D. Decontaminate before contact

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16. What is the minimum recommended time to wash hands with soap and water?

A. 10 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 30 seconds
D. 40 seconds

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17. What is a key requirement for successful hand hygiene culture in a unit?

A. Appointing one hand hygiene officer
B. Creating a blame-free environment
C. Punishing those who forget
D. Ensuring only senior staff wash hands

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18. -

Working on it

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19. What is the most appropriate action if you see a colleague skip hand hygiene?

A. Ignore it
B. Tell their supervisor later
C. Gently remind them
D. Confront them angrily

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20. What is the target hand hygiene compliance rate in this QI project?

A. 50%
B. 70%
C. 90%
D. 100%

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