CHS Infection Control & Prevention 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a hyperbaric oxygen unit, which patient population is at HIGHEST risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?
- Patients receiving elective cosmetic treatments
- Immunocompromised patients with chronic wounds (Correct answer)
- Patients with stable cardiac conditions
- Healthy athletes undergoing performance therapy
Correct answer: Immunocompromised patients with chronic wounds
Immunocompromised patients with chronic wounds have impaired host defenses and open skin barriers, significantly elevating their risk for HAIs in any healthcare setting.
Question 2: What is the Spaulding classification category for a hyperbaric hood or mask that contacts intact mucous membranes?
- Critical
- Semi-critical (Correct answer)
- Non-critical
- Uncategorized
Correct answer: Semi-critical
Items contacting mucous membranes are classified as semi-critical under Spaulding's scheme and require at minimum high-level disinfection between patient uses.
Question 3: A hyperbaric technologist notices a patient's wound dressing has become saturated with exudate mid-treatment inside the monoplace chamber. What is the priority infection control action upon chamber decompression?
- Document the event and change dressing at next scheduled visit
- Change the dressing immediately using aseptic technique and then decontaminate the chamber (Correct answer)
- Apply additional layers over the saturated dressing
- Defer dressing change to the wound care nurse the following day
Correct answer: Change the dressing immediately using aseptic technique and then decontaminate the chamber
Saturated dressings increase infection risk; the dressing should be changed immediately using aseptic technique, followed by thorough chamber decontamination to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 4: Which action is the SINGLE most effective measure to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections in a hyperbaric unit?
- Universal use of N95 respirators
- Routine antibiotic prophylaxis for all patients
- Consistent and proper hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Daily terminal cleaning of the chamber with bleach
Correct answer: Consistent and proper hand hygiene
The CDC and WHO consistently identify hand hygiene as the single most effective intervention for preventing transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens.
Question 5: Biofilm formation inside hyperbaric chambers is most commonly associated with which surface or component?
- Acrylic viewport windows
- Water reservoirs and humidification systems (Correct answer)
- Steel pressure vessel walls
- Pressure gauges and control panels
Correct answer: Water reservoirs and humidification systems
Water reservoirs and humidification components provide a moist environment ideal for biofilm formation by organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella.
Question 6: Under the CDC's Standard Precautions, which body fluid from a hyperbaric patient does NOT require special precautions unless visibly bloody?
- Blood
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Sweat (Correct answer)
- Pleural fluid
Correct answer: Sweat
Standard precautions do not require special handling of sweat unless it is visibly contaminated with blood, as sweat is not considered an infectious body fluid.
Question 7: When should terminal cleaning of a multiplace hyperbaric chamber be performed?
- Once per week during low-census periods
- After each patient use during the day, with terminal cleaning at day's end (Correct answer)
- Only when a patient with a known infection is treated
- Monthly per OSHA requirements
Correct answer: After each patient use during the day, with terminal cleaning at day's end
Routine cleaning between patients and terminal cleaning at end of each day are both required to maintain a safe environment and prevent pathogen accumulation.
CHS Infection Control & Prevention 3
In a hyperbaric oxygen unit, which patient population is at HIGHEST risk for developing a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?