Infection control: Clostridioides difficile: 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.

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Microbiology · Infection control: Clostridioides difficile

Sample item

During an outbreak of Clostridioides difficile diarrhoea on a medical ward, which hand hygiene measure is best for staff after caring for an affected patient?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Washing with soap and running water

C. difficile forms spores that are not killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, so physical removal with soap and water is preferred during outbreaks. Contact precautions, a single room and chlorine-based sporicidal surface cleaning are also needed. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.

Option by option

  • A. Rubbing with 0.5% chlorhexidine in alcohol

    Chlorhexidine in alcohol is not sporicidal, so spores persist.

  • B. Wearing gloves and skipping hand hygiene

    Gloves can be contaminated on removal and hand hygiene must follow every glove removal.

  • C. Washing with soap and running water (correct)

    Correct. Soap and water mechanically removes spores from the hands.

  • D. Alcohol-based hand rub alone

    Alcohol does not kill spores and leaves them on the hands.

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.

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Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Washing with soap and running water. C.

Why is "Rubbing with 0.5% chlorhexidine in alcohol" not the answer?

Chlorhexidine in alcohol is not sporicidal, so spores persist.

Why is "Wearing gloves and skipping hand hygiene" not the answer?

Gloves can be contaminated on removal and hand hygiene must follow every glove removal.

Why is "Alcohol-based hand rub alone" not the answer?

Alcohol does not kill spores and leaves them on the hands.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infection control: Clostridioides difficile in Microbiology. difficile forms spores that are not killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, so physical removal with soap and water is preferred during outbreaks. Contact precautions, a single room and chlorine-based sporicidal surface cleaning are also needed. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene.

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: Clostridioides difficile?

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.