Infection Prevention Flashcards

A hospital experiences a cluster of Legionnaires' disease cases. The FIRST priority investigation step is to:

Answer: Conduct a water system risk assessment and collect environmental samples

The immediate priority is to identify and characterize the environmental source through a water system risk assessment and sampling to guide targeted remediation.

Which sterilization method is MOST appropriate for heat-sensitive flexible endoscopes?

Answer: High-level disinfection with glutaraldehyde or OPA

Flexible endoscopes that contact mucous membranes are semicritical items requiring high-level disinfection; steam and dry heat would damage them.

In the chain of infection, which link does respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette primarily interrupt?

Answer: Mode of transmission

Covering coughs and sneezes and disposing of tissues interrupts the mode of transmission by reducing respiratory droplet spread in the environment.

Which metric is used by NHSN to adjust HAI rates for patient population risk and allow fair facility comparisons?

Answer: Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR)

The SIR compares observed infections to a risk-adjusted predicted number based on national baseline data, enabling meaningful benchmarking across facilities.

A construction project is beginning adjacent to an oncology unit. The MOST critical infection prevention measure is to:

Answer: Move all immunocompromised patients to a different floor and establish an ICRA

Implementing an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) and relocating highly susceptible patients protects immunocompromised individuals from fungal spores released during construction.

The single most effective intervention proven to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) is:

Answer: Appropriate timing and selection of prophylactic antibiotics

Administering the correct prophylactic antibiotic within 60 minutes before incision (120 min for vancomycin/fluoroquinolones) and discontinuing within 24 hours postoperatively is the highest-impact SSI prevention measure.

Which of the following organisms is classified as a Category A bioterrorism agent by the CDC?

Answer: Yersinia pestis (plague)

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a CDC Category A agent due to its high mortality, potential for person-to-person spread, and capacity for public panic.