ABFAS Safety and Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organism is most commonly responsible for surgical site infections following foot and ankle procedures?
- Staphylococcus aureus (Correct answer)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Escherichia coli
- Clostridium perfringens
Correct answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, is the leading cause of surgical site infections in foot and ankle surgery.
Question 2: What is the recommended duration for surgical hand antisepsis using an alcohol-based hand rub before a foot and ankle procedure?
- 1–1.5 minutes
- 3–5 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10 minutes
- 30 seconds
Correct answer: 3–5 minutes
Alcohol-based surgical hand rubs should be applied for 3–5 minutes following manufacturer instructions to achieve adequate antisepsis.
Question 3: A patient develops a fever of 38.6°C on postoperative day 1 after an elective bunionectomy. What is the most likely cause?
- Wind (atelectasis) (Correct answer)
- Water (urinary tract infection)
- Wound infection
- Wonder drugs (drug fever)
Correct answer: Wind (atelectasis)
Fever within the first 24–48 hours post-op is most commonly due to atelectasis (Wind), not wound infection.
Question 4: Which sterilization method is most appropriate for heat-sensitive foot and ankle surgical instruments?
- Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization (Correct answer)
- Steam autoclave at 134°C
- Dry heat oven
- Boiling water disinfection
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilization
Ethylene oxide gas sterilizes heat-sensitive instruments without thermal damage, making it the preferred method for such items.
Question 5: According to OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards, when is double-gloving most strongly recommended in foot and ankle surgery?
- During procedures with high risk of glove perforation such as bone work with wires (Correct answer)
- Only when the patient is known HIV-positive
- Only during tourniquet inflation
- When the surgeon has a skin condition on their hands
Correct answer: During procedures with high risk of glove perforation such as bone work with wires
Double-gloving is recommended during high-risk procedures involving sharp instrumentation like K-wires to reduce bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a surgical safety checklist (e.g., WHO Surgical Safety Checklist) used before foot and ankle procedures?
- To reduce adverse events by verifying patient identity, site, and equipment readiness (Correct answer)
- To document insurance billing codes
- To assign postoperative physical therapy
- To verify preoperative radiology orders only
Correct answer: To reduce adverse events by verifying patient identity, site, and equipment readiness
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist systematically verifies critical safety items to reduce preventable complications and wrong-site surgery.
Question 7: Which antiseptic solution is contraindicated for preoperative skin preparation near the tympanic membrane but is commonly used for foot and ankle surgery prep?
- Chlorhexidine gluconate (Correct answer)
- Povidone-iodine
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
Correct answer: Chlorhexidine gluconate
Chlorhexidine gluconate is ototoxic and contraindicated near the ear, but is widely used and preferred for foot/ankle surgical skin preparation.
ABFAS Safety and Infection Control 2
Which organism is most commonly responsible for surgical site infections following foot and ankle procedures?