The respiratory therapist is in a contact isolation room with a patient. The stethoscope for use ...

(Answer to Q. 1)  ANS: D
Alcohols are used to disinfect equipment such as thermometers, stethoscopes, and fiberoptic en-doscopes; in addition, they are used to clean the surfaces of mechanical ventilators and prepara-tion areas. Acetic acid is the disinfectant of choice with home respiratory care equipment and is not often used in the hospital setting. Glutaraldehyde is a respiratory irritant and would not be appropriate for use in patient care areas. Ethylene oxide cannot be used at the bedside because it requires specialized equipment and takes several steps to prepare it for disinfectant use.

(Answer to Q. 2)  ANS: B
Glutaraldehyde is sporicidal and has an exposure time of 6 to 8 hours. Iodophors are bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal, and virucidal, but they are not effective against bacterial spores. Al-cohols are bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal, but they do not kill bacterial spores. Quaternary ammonium compounds are not sporicidal.

(Answer to Q. 3)  ANS: B
Phenolic compounds are diluted to a 0.4 to 5 solution to provide a low to intermediate level of disinfection.

(Answer to Q. 4)  ANS: B
Below 50 concentration, the ability of alcohols to disinfect decreases significantly.

(Answer to Q. 5)  ANS: D
Organ transplantation increases a patient's susceptibility to toxoplasmosis. Multiple myeloma in-creases a patient's susceptibility to Haemophilus influenzae. Antibiotic therapy increases a pa-tient's susceptibility to Clostridium difficile. Oncochemotherapy increases a patient's susceptibil-ity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida.