CIC Surgical Site Infection Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which CDC SSI category includes infections involving only skin and subcutaneous tissue at the incision site?
- Superficial incisional SSI (Correct answer)
- Deep incisional SSI
- Organ/space SSI
- Implant-related SSI
Correct answer: Superficial incisional SSI
Superficial incisional SSIs involve only the skin and subcutaneous tissue at the incision site within 30 days of surgery.
Question 2: What is the recommended timing for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis administration to reduce SSI risk?
- Within 60 minutes before incision (Correct answer)
- At the time of incision
- 30 minutes after incision
- 2 hours before incision
Correct answer: Within 60 minutes before incision
Prophylactic antibiotics should be administered within 60 minutes before the surgical incision to achieve adequate tissue levels at the time of the procedure.
Question 3: Which method is preferred for preoperative hair removal to reduce SSI risk?
- Clipping with electric clippers (Correct answer)
- Shaving with a razor
- Depilatory creams
- Wet shaving at the operative site
Correct answer: Clipping with electric clippers
Electric clippers are preferred over razors because razors cause microabrasions that disrupt skin integrity and increase SSI risk.
Question 4: Which preoperative skin antiseptic agent is recommended for clean-contaminated surgical procedures?
- Chlorhexidine-alcohol (Correct answer)
- Povidone-iodine aqueous solution alone
- Isopropyl alcohol alone
- Hydrogen peroxide solution
Correct answer: Chlorhexidine-alcohol
Chlorhexidine-alcohol is the preferred preoperative skin antiseptic due to its superior persistent antimicrobial activity compared to other agents.
Question 5: Which patient comorbidity most significantly increases SSI risk in elective surgery?
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Age over 50 years
- Female sex
- History of seasonal allergies
Correct answer: Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
Uncontrolled hyperglycemia impairs neutrophil function and wound healing, substantially increasing the risk of SSI.
Question 6: According to CDC guidelines, how long should prophylactic antibiotics be continued postoperatively for most surgical procedures?
- Less than 24 hours (Correct answer)
- 24 to 48 hours
- 48 to 72 hours
- Until all surgical drains are removed
Correct answer: Less than 24 hours
CDC guidelines recommend discontinuing prophylactic antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery for most procedures to minimize resistance and adverse effects.
CIC Surgical Site Infection Prevention 1
Which CDC SSI category includes infections involving only skin and subcutaneous tissue at the incision site?