Safety and Infection Control Flashcards

When a full sharps container is ready for disposal, what is the FIRST recommended step for a household user in most US states?

Answer: Check local regulations for an approved community sharps disposal option such as a drop-off site

Safe disposal options vary by state and locality; patients should first identify approved community collection sites, mail-back programs, or household hazardous waste facilities.

A patient with type 2 diabetes who performs yard work asks how to protect against foot injuries. Which recommendation is MOST appropriate for a CDCES to make?

Answer: Always wear well-fitting, closed-toe shoes and inspect feet thoroughly after outdoor activities

Protective footwear and post-activity foot inspection are essential preventive measures to detect and address injuries before they progress to infections.

A CDCES is reviewing the risk of necrotizing fasciitis in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Which statement is MOST accurate?

Answer: Hyperglycemia impairs neutrophil function, increasing susceptibility to rapidly progressing soft-tissue infections

Chronic hyperglycemia suppresses neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst, significantly raising the risk of severe infections including necrotizing fasciitis.

Which of the following correctly describes the purpose of using a 90-degree insertion angle for insulin pen injections in most adults?

Answer: It ensures subcutaneous delivery while minimizing the risk of intramuscular injection in individuals with adequate subcutaneous tissue

A 90-degree angle delivers insulin into the subcutaneous layer in most adults; a 45-degree angle may be used in very lean individuals to avoid intramuscular injection.

A CDCES notices that a patient's CGM transmitter site has redness, warmth, and purulent drainage. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action to teach?

Answer: Remove the sensor, clean the site, and seek prompt medical evaluation for possible infection

Signs of local infection at a CGM site require sensor removal and medical evaluation to prevent spread of infection, particularly in a person with diabetes.

During a diabetes group education session, a participant asks whether it is safe to use a friend's insulin pen in an emergency. What should the CDCES explain?

Answer: Insulin pens must never be shared because internal components can harbor bloodborne pathogens

Insulin pens are for single-patient use only; blood can flow back into the cartridge, making shared pens a potential vehicle for transmitting bloodborne infections.

A CDCES is educating a patient about recognizing early signs of infection at an insulin pump infusion site. Which combination of symptoms warrants immediate site removal and medical contact?

Answer: Increasing redness, swelling, warmth, and purulent discharge at the insertion site

Progressive local inflammation with purulent discharge indicates a catheter-site infection requiring immediate removal of the infusion set and medical evaluation.