Patient Care · ARRT 2025
Infection Control for ARRT Radiographers
Hand hygiene, Standard Precautions, transmission-based precautions, sterile technique, and the cycle of infection for the ARRT Radiography Boards.
Overview
Infection control on the ARRT Radiography exam is built around three layers of defense: personal hygiene (especially hand washing), Standard Precautions (treat every patient as potentially infectious), and Transmission-Based Precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) for known threats. The chapter exists because radiographers move between departments more than almost any other clinical role, surgery, ICU, ER, the floors, and a single contaminated cassette can become a fomite for the entire hospital.
The cycle of infection has six links: causative agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any one link stops transmission. Hand hygiene is the single most effective intervention, period. Soap and water (20 seconds minimum, friction matters more than time) is mandatory before and after every patient contact. Alcohol-based hand rub (60–95% ethanol) is acceptable when hands are not visibly soiled.
Transmission-Based Precautions stack on top of Standard. Contact precautions (gown, gloves, dedicated equipment) for MRSA, VRE, C. diff. Droplet precautions (surgical mask, eye protection within 3–6 feet) for influenza, pertussis, mumps, RSV. Airborne precautions (N95 respirator, negative-pressure room) for tuberculosis, measles, varicella. The ARRT routinely tests pairings, match the disease to the precaution, and asks where to place a portable exam in a TB isolation suite (answer: don't bring it in if avoidable; if unavoidable, the radiographer wears the N95 and the cassette is sleeved).
What you’ll learn in this chapter
The 16 lessons in this chapter break down as follows. The full lesson content is unlocked when you start a free account.
Foundations: The Chain of Infection
- The Cycle of Infection
- Asepsis: Medical vs Surgical
Level 1 Defense: Foundational Readiness
- Handwashing: The Single Most Important Precaution
- Professional Attire: A Barrier to Contamination
- Nosocomial Infections: The Threat from Within
Level 2 Defense: Standard Precautions
- Standard Precautions: Universal Defense
- Standard Precautions in Action
Level 3 Defense: Transmission-Based Precautions
- Transmission-Based Precautions Overview
- Three Precaution Types in Detail
Specialized Operations
- Mobile Radiography for Contact Isolation
- Protective (Reverse) Isolation
- The Human Element: Dignity in Isolation
Knowledge Check
- Question 1 of 4 Quiz
- Question 2 of 4 Quiz
- Question 3 of 4 Quiz
- Question 4 of 4 Quiz
Key terms in this chapter
These are the 7 terms most likely to appear on the ARRT registry from this chapter. Use them as a flashcard pre-quiz.
- Standard Precautions
- Treat every patient's blood, body fluids, secretions, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious. Applies to every patient, every time.
- Cycle of Infection
- The six-link chain (agent, reservoir, portal of exit, transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host). Breaking any link stops infection.
- Contact Precautions
- Gown, gloves, dedicated equipment. Used for MRSA, VRE, C. diff, scabies, and other contact-transmitted organisms.
- Droplet Precautions
- Surgical mask + eye protection within 3–6 feet. Used for influenza, pertussis, mumps, meningococcal disease.
- Airborne Precautions
- N95 respirator + negative-pressure isolation room. Used for tuberculosis, measles, varicella (chickenpox).
- Fomite
- An inanimate object that carries infectious organisms (a cassette, a marker, a cell phone). Disinfect between patients.
- Sterile Technique
- Asepsis maintained for invasive procedures. The sterile field extends 1 inch from any edge, touch outside that and the field is contaminated.
Sample practice question: Patient Interactions
One free sample from the 124-question Patient Interactions bank. See the format, the rationale style, and the difficulty before you sign up.
A patient is scheduled for an upper GI series. Before bringing the patient into the fluoroscopy room, which of the following is the radiographer's FIRST priority?
Show answer and rationale
A, Incorrect: Order verification matters, but it follows patient identification.
B, Correct: Correct. The Joint Commission requires two-factor identification (typically name and DOB) before any procedure. Wrong-patient errors are the most common preventable adverse event in imaging.
C, Incorrect: Barium administration begins after the patient is identified and consented.
D, Incorrect: Positioning happens after identification, history-taking, and consent confirmation.
Read the full chapter, free.
The free tier unlocks one complete chapter (16 lessons), 50 practice questions, and 1 sample timed exam. No credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
What does the ARRT Radiography Patient Care category cover?
Infection control on the ARRT Radiography exam is built around three layers of defense: personal hygiene (especially hand washing), Standard Precautions (treat every patient as potentially infectious), and Transmission-Based Precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) for known threats. The chapter exists because radiographers move between departments more than almost any other clinical role, surgery, ICU, ER, the floors, and a single contaminated cassette can become a fomite for the entire hospital.
How many lessons are in the Infection Control for ARRT Radiographers chapter?
This chapter contains 16 lessons across 6 sections, plus a knowledge-check quiz at the end. The full lesson content is unlocked with a Premium subscription. The free tier includes the first chapter complete.
Is this chapter aligned with the ARRT 2025 Content Specifications?
Yes. Every chapter on this site maps directly to the ARRT Radiography Content Specifications effective 2025. This chapter falls under the Patient Care domain of the official ARRT exam blueprint.