CHSP Infection Prevention and Control 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which surveillance definition system does the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) use to standardize healthcare-associated infection reporting?
- ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes
- NHSN standardized surveillance definitions (Correct answer)
- Joint Commission sentinel event criteria
- OSHA injury and illness recording standards
Correct answer: NHSN standardized surveillance definitions
NHSN uses its own standardized surveillance definitions specifically designed to ensure consistent, comparable HAI reporting across facilities.
Question 2: A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis is admitted. Which type of isolation room is required?
- Positive-pressure room with HEPA filtration
- Negative-pressure airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) (Correct answer)
- Standard private room with contact precautions only
- Cohort room with other TB patients and surgical masks
Correct answer: Negative-pressure airborne infection isolation room (AIIR)
Airborne infection isolation rooms with negative pressure and at least 12 air changes per hour are required for patients with active pulmonary TB.
Question 3: Which element is NOT part of the central line bundle used to prevent CLABSI?
- Hand hygiene before insertion
- Maximal barrier precautions during insertion
- Daily assessment of line necessity
- Routine replacement of central lines every 72 hours (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Routine replacement of central lines every 72 hours
Routine scheduled replacement of central lines is not recommended and is not part of the CLABSI prevention bundle; lines should be removed when no longer necessary.
Question 4: A healthcare safety professional is evaluating the reprocessing of a laryngoscope blade after use. According to the Spaulding classification, how should this item be categorized?
- Non-critical — low-level disinfection required
- Semi-critical — high-level disinfection required (Correct answer)
- Critical — sterilization required
- Critical — intermediate disinfection required
Correct answer: Semi-critical — high-level disinfection required
Laryngoscope blades contact mucous membranes and are classified as semi-critical devices requiring high-level disinfection or sterilization.
Question 5: During an influenza outbreak investigation, the infection preventionist calculates an attack rate of 30% among vaccinated staff and 65% among unvaccinated staff. What does this data primarily demonstrate?
- The vaccine is ineffective and should be discontinued
- Vaccine effectiveness is approximately 54% in this outbreak (Correct answer)
- Only unvaccinated staff should be cohorted
- The outbreak is likely caused by a non-influenza pathogen
Correct answer: Vaccine effectiveness is approximately 54% in this outbreak
Vaccine effectiveness is calculated as (1 - risk ratio) × 100; with attack rates of 30% vs. 65%, VE = (1 - 0.46) × 100 ≈ 54%, showing partial but meaningful protection.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the purpose of an infection control risk assessment (ICRA) in a healthcare construction project?
- To determine contractor licensing requirements for hospital work
- To identify and mitigate infection risks to patients from construction dust and disruption (Correct answer)
- To approve the architectural design of new patient rooms
- To set the budget for personal protective equipment during construction
Correct answer: To identify and mitigate infection risks to patients from construction dust and disruption
An ICRA systematically evaluates infection risks posed by construction activities and drives control measures such as negative-pressure barriers to protect immunocompromised patients.
Question 7: A nurse reports that a patient on droplet precautions for influenza was transported through a common hallway without a surgical mask. What is the most appropriate immediate corrective action?
- Reassign the patient to airborne precautions immediately
- Place a surgical mask on the patient during any transport outside the room (Correct answer)
- Confine the patient to the room indefinitely with no transport allowed
- Increase housekeeping frequency in the hallway only
Correct answer: Place a surgical mask on the patient during any transport outside the room
Patients on droplet precautions should wear a surgical mask during transport to contain respiratory droplets and protect others in common areas.
CHSP Infection Prevention and Control 5
Which surveillance definition system does the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) use to standardize healthcare-associated infection reporting?