AF Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Following DC cardioversion for AF, the defibrillator pads are contaminated with blood. The correct reprocessing step is to:
- Wipe with a dry cloth and store for reuse
- Follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning with an EPA-registered disinfectant (Correct answer)
- Autoclave if pads are reusable
- Soak in bleach solution for 5 minutes without rinsing
Correct answer: Follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning with an EPA-registered disinfectant
Reusable defibrillator pads must be reprocessed according to manufacturer guidelines using an EPA-registered disinfectant to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 2: An AF patient is being treated with dronedarone and develops influenza. The primary infection safety concern related to AF management is:
- Influenza increases the risk of warfarin resistance
- Fever and dehydration can precipitate thromboembolic events in AF patients (Correct answer)
- Dronedarone is contraindicated with viral infections
- Influenza vaccines are contraindicated in patients on antiarrhythmics
Correct answer: Fever and dehydration can precipitate thromboembolic events in AF patients
Fever and dehydration from influenza increase thrombotic risk in AF patients, making close monitoring and hydration critical to prevent stroke.
Question 3: Standard precautions require healthcare workers to treat which substances as potentially infectious?
- Blood and all body fluids except sweat (Correct answer)
- Blood only
- Only visibly bloody secretions
- Respiratory secretions only
Correct answer: Blood and all body fluids except sweat
Standard precautions apply to blood and all body fluids (except sweat), non-intact skin, and mucous membranes regardless of the patient's known infection status.
Question 4: A patient with AF is admitted with infective endocarditis involving the mitral valve. Which isolation precautions are indicated?
- Contact precautions due to wound drainage
- Standard precautions unless a transmissible pathogen is identified (Correct answer)
- Droplet precautions because the infection involves the heart
- Airborne precautions for all cardiac infections
Correct answer: Standard precautions unless a transmissible pathogen is identified
Infective endocarditis itself does not require isolation beyond standard precautions unless the causative organism requires transmission-based precautions.
Question 5: A nurse administering oral anticoagulants to multiple AF patients should perform hand hygiene:
- Only before preparing medications
- Before and after contact with each patient and before donning gloves (Correct answer)
- Once per medication pass if gloves are worn throughout
- Only when hands are visibly soiled
Correct answer: Before and after contact with each patient and before donning gloves
The WHO Five Moments for Hand Hygiene require hand hygiene before patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, and after contact with patient surroundings.
Question 6: Which patient fall risk factor is MOST directly linked to AF pharmacotherapy?
- Hypokalemia from loop diuretics used in HF-related AF (Correct answer)
- Photosensitivity from amiodarone
- Gingival hyperplasia from flecainide
- Peripheral edema from dronedarone
Correct answer: Hypokalemia from loop diuretics used in HF-related AF
Loop diuretics commonly used in heart failure-related AF cause hypokalemia and volume depletion, increasing orthostatic hypotension and fall risk.
Question 7: When disposing of a needle used for heparin injection in an AF patient, the nurse should:
- Recap the needle using two hands before disposal
- Discard the uncapped needle immediately into an approved sharps container (Correct answer)
- Place the needle in a regular trash bin if no sharps container is nearby
- Recap using the one-hand scoop technique if no sharps container is within reach
Correct answer: Discard the uncapped needle immediately into an approved sharps container
Needles should be discarded immediately without recapping into an approved puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.
AF Safety & Infection Control 3
Following DC cardioversion for AF, the defibrillator pads are contaminated with blood.
The correct reprocessing step is to: