Clinical Procedures and Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real APC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Procedures and Protocols flashcards as text
When performing a medication reconciliation at hospital admission, which source of information is considered the most reliable?
Answer: A structured interview with the patient combined with dispensing records
A structured patient interview combined with dispensing records provides the most complete and accurate medication history at admission.
Under Australian guidelines, what is the recommended maximum duration for empiric antibiotic therapy before reviewing the clinical indication?
Answer: 48–72 hours
Empiric antibiotic therapy should be reviewed at 48–72 hours to reassess the clinical indication and microbiological results.
A pharmacist identifies a patient is receiving both warfarin and a new prescription for fluconazole. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Contact the prescriber to discuss the interaction and recommend an INR check within 2–3 days
Fluconazole significantly inhibits CYP2C9 and increases warfarin levels, so the prescriber must be informed and an early INR check arranged.
Which aseptic technique principle is critical when preparing a cytotoxic product in a biological safety cabinet (BSC)?
Answer: Placing all materials at least 15 cm inside the BSC work zone
Materials must be placed at least 15 cm inside the BSC to remain within the unidirectional airflow zone and prevent contamination.
A patient on haemodialysis requires gentamicin dosing. Compared with a patient with normal renal function, what adjustment is generally indicated?
Answer: Same or slightly reduced dose, markedly extended dosing interval
Gentamicin is renally cleared, so haemodialysis patients typically receive a similar single dose but at an extended interval (often post-dialysis dosing).
According to Australian Immunisation Handbook protocols, which interval is required between two doses of live attenuated vaccines given by different injections?
Answer: At least 4 weeks (28 days)
Two different live attenuated injectable vaccines must be separated by at least 28 days to avoid immune interference.
When counselling a patient on how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) without a spacer, which step is most commonly performed incorrectly?
Answer: Coordinating actuation with the start of a slow, deep inhalation
Poor coordination between pressing the canister and beginning inhalation is the most frequent MDI technique error, reducing lung deposition.