Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention

and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

Unit 1 Assessment

You should use this file to complete your Assessment.

 The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a USB
drive
 Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly
 When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference
 Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your
My Study area – make sure it is clearly marked with your name, the course title and the Unit and
Assessment number.

Please note that this Assessment document has 14 pages and is made up of 4
Sections.

Name:

Section 1: Know how infection is caused

This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 1: Know how infection is caused.

Learning objective Place in Assessment

1.1 Define the terms: Question 1 Page 2
 Infection
 Colonisation
1.2 Explain the terms: Question 2 Page 2
 Pathogenic
 Non-pathogenic
1.3 Explain the difference between systemic and local Question 3 Page 3
infection
1.4 Identify infections that may be: Question 4 Page 3
 Systemic
 Localised
1.5 Describe the characteristics of: Question 5a Page 4
 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Parasites
1.6 State common illnesses caused by: Question 5b Page 4
 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Parasites

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 1

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

1. What is meant by the terms infection and colonisation? Write definitions in the space
below: [1.1]

Infection

Colonisation

2. What is meant by the terms pathogenic and non-pathogenic? Write explanations in the
space below: [1.2]

Pathogenic

Non-pathogenic

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 2

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

3. Explain the difference between a systemic infection and a localised infection. [1.3]

4. The table below lists four different infections. Complete the Type column of this table by
identifying which infections are systemic and which ones are localised. [1.4]

Infection Type
Influenza (flu)

Infected finger

Septicaemia

Infected mouth ulcer

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 3

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

5a. Describe two characteristics of each of the micro-organisms below. [1.5]

Bacteria

Viruses

Fungi

Parasites

5b. For each micro-organism named below, state two common illnesses that it can cause.
[1.6]

Bacteria

Viruses

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 4

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

Fungi

Parasites

Now that you have completed Section 1 of your Assessment, remember to save the
work you have done so far – you will need to send your work to your tutor for marking
once you have completed all 4 Sections of this Assessment.

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 5

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

Section 2: How infection can spread

This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 2: Understand how infection can
spread.

Learning objective Place in Assessment

2.1 Explain the conditions required for growth of: Question 1 Page 7
 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Parasites
2.2 Outline how microorganisms can: Question 2 Page 8
 Enter the body
 Exit the body

2.3 Identify common sources of infection Question 3 Page 8

2.4 Explain what is meant by: Question 4 Page 8
 Indirect contact
 Direct contact
2.5 Describe what is meant by ‘cross infection’ Question 5 Page 9

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 6

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

1. Under the headings listed below, explain the conditions that each micro-organism needs
in order to grow. Include at least two conditions for each micro-organism. [2.1]

Bacteria

Viruses

Fungi

Parasites

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 7

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

2. Outline how micro-organisms can enter and exit the body. Your answer should include
two examples of routes into the body and two examples of routes out of the body. [2.2]

3. Identify three common sources of infection and list them below. [2.3]

1)

2)

3)

4. In relation to the spread of infection, explain what is meant by the following terms: [2.4]

Indirect contact

Direct contact

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 8

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

5. Describe what is meant by the term ‘cross-infection’. Include an example of cross-

infection to support your answer. [2.5]

Now that you have completed Section 2 of your Assessment, remember to save the
work you have done so far – you will need to send your work to your tutor for marking
once you have completed all 4 Sections of this Assessment.

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 9

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

Section 3: The chain of infection

This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 3: Understand the ‘chain of
infection’.

Learning objective Place in Assessment

3.1 Outline the links of the ‘chain of infection’ Question 1 Page 10
3.2 Explain why measures are taken to break the chain Question 2 Page 10
3.3 Explain the steps that can be taken to break the chain of Question 3 Page 11
infection

1. Complete the table by identifying and outlining the six links in the ‘chain of infection’. [3.1]

Link Outline
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

2. Explain why it is important that certain measures are taken to break the chain of
infection. [3.2]

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 10

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

3. Now let’s think about what these measures can be! Explain at least two specific steps
that can be taken to break the chain of infection. [3.3]

Now that you have completed Section 3 of your Assessment, remember to save the
work you have done so far – you will need to send your work to your tutor for marking
once you have completed all 4 Sections of this Assessment.

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 11

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

Section 4: Recognising Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs)

This section will help you to evidence Learning Outcome 4: Recognising Healthcare
Associated Infections.

Learning objective Place in Assessment

4.1 Describe what is meant by the term HCAI in relation to Question 1 Page 12
infection control
4.2 Identify common types of HCAI Question 2 Page 12
4.3 Identify groups most at risk from HCAI Question 3 Page 13
4.4 Explain how HCAIs are likely to spread in a workplace Question 4 Page 13
4.5 Identify the procedures that should be followed to minimise Question 5 Page 13
the risk of HCAI
4.6 List current sources of information on current HCAI Question 6 Page 14

1. In relation to infection control, describe what is meant by the term Healthcare Associated
Infection (HCAI). [4.1]

2. Identify three common types of HCAI – list them in the space below. [4.2]

1)

2)

3)

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 12

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

3. Complete the following table by identifying two groups that can be most at risk from HCAIs
and explain why this is the case. [4.3]

Vulnerable group Why are they at risk?

4. Give two examples to explain how HCAI can spread in the workplace. [4.4]

Example 1:

Example 2:

5. Identify two procedures that should be followed to minimise the risk of spreading HCAIs.
[4.5]

Procedure 1:

Procedure 2:

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 13

Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Health Care Settings

Unit 1: Principles of the causes and spread of infection

6. List at least two current sources of information on HCAIs (these could include
websites, support groups, forums, etc). [4.6]

Now that you have completed all 4 sections of this Assessment, go to

www.vision2learn.com. Log in to the platform and send your Assessment to your
tutor via your My Study page for marking. Good luck!

© Creating Careers Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. 14