Infection control: 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

Sample item

Why are alcohol hand rubs less effective against Clostridioides difficile spores?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Spores resist alcohol-based killing

C. difficile spores resist alcohol, so soap-and-water handwashing and environmental sporicidal cleaning are important in outbreak control.

Option by option

  • A. Spores are removed by gloves alone

    Gloves complement but do not replace hand hygiene.

  • B. C. difficile is a virus

    C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium.

  • C. Spores resist alcohol-based killing (correct)

    Correct: spores are not reliably killed by alcohol rub.

  • D. Alcohol increases spore germination only

    Germination is not the reason for failure.

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.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Spores resist alcohol-based killing. C.

Why is "Spores are removed by gloves alone" not the answer?

Gloves complement but do not replace hand hygiene.

Why is "C. difficile is a virus" not the answer?

C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium.

Why is "Alcohol increases spore germination only" not the answer?

Germination is not the reason for failure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infection control in Microbiology. difficile spores resist alcohol, so soap-and-water handwashing and environmental sporicidal cleaning are important in outbreak control.

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?

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.