Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards

What is the Spaulding Classification system used for in infection prevention?

Answer: Categorizing medical devices based on infection risk to determine disinfection or sterilization level required

The Spaulding Classification categorizes devices as critical, semi-critical, or non-critical based on infection risk from their use.

What are the five moments for hand hygiene as defined by the WHO?

Answer: Before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, after touching patient surroundings

WHO five moments: before touching patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching patient, after touching patient surroundings.

What type of precautions should be implemented for a patient diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis?

Answer: Airborne precautions

Pulmonary TB requires airborne precautions because M. tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne nuclei that remain suspended in the air.

What is the minimum bleach concentration recommended by CDC for disinfecting surfaces contaminated with C. difficile?

Answer: 1:10 dilution (5,000 ppm) or EPA-registered sporicidal product

CDC recommends 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite (5,000 ppm) or EPA-registered sporicidal product for C. difficile spores.

What is an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) matrix used for in healthcare construction?

Answer: To evaluate infection risk from construction and determine appropriate precautions based on patient population and project type

The ICRA matrix cross-references construction activity type with patient risk group to determine the appropriate class of precautions.

What is the proper order for donning PPE when entering a patient room under contact and droplet precautions?

Answer: Gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves

The correct donning sequence is gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, and gloves last to cover the gown cuffs.

What is the purpose of an antibiotic stewardship program in a healthcare facility?

Answer: To optimize antibiotic use to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and decrease healthcare-associated infections

Antibiotic stewardship programs optimize prescribing to ensure the right drug, dose, and duration while reducing unnecessary use that drives resistance.

What is the significance of the surgical site infection surveillance window?

Answer: The defined post-operative surveillance period during which an infection is attributed to the surgical procedure

The SSI window is the defined period after surgery (30 or 90 days depending on procedure) during which infections are classified as procedure-related.

Which sterilization method is most commonly used for heat-stable surgical instruments?

Answer: Steam sterilization (autoclaving)

Steam sterilization using autoclaves is the most common, reliable, and cost-effective method for heat-stable surgical instruments.

What does healthcare-associated infection (HAI) specifically refer to?

Answer: An infection acquired during healthcare treatment that was not present or incubating at admission

HAIs are infections that develop during healthcare delivery and were not present or incubating at admission.

What is the purpose of performing environmental cultures in a healthcare facility?

Answer: To investigate suspected environmental sources during outbreaks or to validate disinfection processes

Environmental cultures are used during outbreak investigations and to validate cleaning and disinfection effectiveness.

What is a bundle approach in infection prevention, such as the central line insertion bundle?

Answer: A small set of evidence-based practices that when implemented together consistently result in better outcomes than individually

Care bundles are structured groups of 3-5 evidence-based interventions that produce significantly better outcomes when implemented together and consistently.

A patient is placed on contact precautions for MRSA. Which action by the nursing assistant requires immediate correction?

Answer: Removing PPE inside the patient room before exiting

PPE must be removed before exiting the patient room, not inside it, to avoid contaminating the hallway environment.

Which organism is the most common cause of healthcare-associated pneumonia in ventilated patients?

Answer: Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequently implicated gram-negative organism in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in healthcare settings.

An infection preventionist is evaluating surgical site infection (SSI) rates. Which pre-operative measure has the strongest evidence for reducing SSI risk?

Answer: Administering prophylactic antibiotics within 60 minutes before incision

Timely prophylactic antibiotic administration within 60 minutes before incision is the highest-evidence intervention for SSI prevention.

Under CDC guidelines, which of the following surfaces in a patient room is considered a 'high-touch' surface requiring more frequent disinfection?

Answer: Call button and bed rails

Call buttons and bed rails are high-touch surfaces that patients and staff contact frequently, making them priority targets for disinfection.

A healthcare worker develops a needlestick injury from a patient with unknown HIV status. What is the first immediate action?

Answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water

Immediate and thorough washing of the wound with soap and water is the first step following a needlestick or sharps injury.

Which disinfectant level is required for semi-critical medical devices such as endoscopes used on intact mucous membranes?

Answer: High-level disinfection

Semi-critical devices contact mucous membranes and require high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms except high levels of bacterial spores.

An outbreak of Clostridioides difficile is identified on a medical unit. Which hand hygiene agent is specifically recommended over alcohol-based hand rub for C. diff situations?

Answer: Soap and water

Soap and water is preferred for C. difficile because alcohol-based hand rubs do not effectively remove spores, whereas soap and water physically removes them.