Infection control: WHO five moments for hand hygiene: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Microbiology · Infection control: WHO five moments for hand hygiene

Sample item

A nurse adjusts the bed rails and IV pole of a patient without touching the patient, then moves to another bed. Which WHO moment for hand hygiene applies?

ABefore a clean or aseptic procedureBAfter touching patient surroundingsCBefore touching a patientDAfter body fluid exposure risk

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. After touching patient surroundings

The WHO five moments are before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings. Contact with bedside objects can contaminate hands even without touching the patient. Alcohol-based rub is preferred unless hands are visibly soiled.

Option by option

A. Before a clean or aseptic procedure
No clean or aseptic procedure was being performed.
B. After touching patient surroundings (correct)
Correct. Touching objects in the patient zone calls for hand hygiene on leaving.
C. Before touching a patient
Hand hygiene before touching a patient applies when approaching a patient, which is the next patient here.
D. After body fluid exposure risk
No body fluid exposure occurred in this scenario.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is B, After touching patient surroundings. The WHO five moments are before touching a patient, before a clean or aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.

Why is "Before a clean or aseptic procedure" not the answer?

No clean or aseptic procedure was being performed.

Why is "Before touching a patient" not the answer?

Hand hygiene before touching a patient applies when approaching a patient, which is the next patient here.

Why is "After body fluid exposure risk" not the answer?

No body fluid exposure occurred in this scenario.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infection control: WHO five moments for hand hygiene in Microbiology. Contact with bedside objects can contaminate hands even without touching the patient. Alcohol-based rub is preferred unless hands are visibly soiled.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infection control: WHO five moments for hand hygiene?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.