Infection control: alcohol hand rub: 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: alcohol hand rub

Sample item

In a ward caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile diarrhoea, why is soap-and-water handwashing preferred after glove removal?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Alcohol rubs do not reliably kill bacterial spores

C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand rub. Soap and water physically removes spores, while gloves and appropriate environmental sporicidal cleaning help prevent transmission.

Option by option

  • A. Alcohol rubs do not reliably kill bacterial spores (correct)

    Correct. Mechanical removal is important because spores survive alcohol.

  • B. Spores are destroyed only by ultraviolet light

    UV may supplement environmental control but is not the only way to address spores.

  • C. Soap activates C. difficile toxin

    Soap does not activate C. difficile toxin.

  • D. Alcohol rubs cause C. difficile to form capsules

    Capsule formation is not the reason for this recommendation.

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 A, Alcohol rubs do not reliably kill bacterial spores. C.

Why is "Spores are destroyed only by ultraviolet light" not the answer?

UV may supplement environmental control but is not the only way to address spores.

Why is "Soap activates C. difficile toxin" not the answer?

Soap does not activate C. difficile toxin.

Why is "Alcohol rubs cause C. difficile to form capsules" not the answer?

Capsule formation is not the reason for this recommendation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infection control: alcohol hand rub in Microbiology. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand rub. Soap and water physically removes spores, while gloves and appropriate environmental sporicidal cleaning help prevent transmission.

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: alcohol hand rub?

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.