Environment of Care Flashcards

Which ventilation parameter is most critical for maintaining negative pressure in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR)?

Answer: Exhaust air volume exceeding supply air volume

Negative pressure rooms require exhaust airflow to exceed supply airflow so contaminated air flows inward rather than escaping to hallways.

What is the recommended minimum number of air changes per hour (ACH) for a standard patient care room according to ASHRAE 170?

Answer: 6 ACH

ASHRAE 170 recommends a minimum of 6 total air changes per hour for standard patient care rooms, with at least 2 being outdoor air.

During construction in a healthcare facility, which method best controls fungal spore dispersal to protect immunocompromised patients?

Answer: Installing negative pressure anteroom barriers with HEPA filtration at the construction zone

Negative pressure barriers with HEPA filtration at the construction zone prevent Aspergillus and other fungal spores from migrating to patient care areas.

Which surface in a patient room has consistently been identified as a high-touch surface with the greatest pathogen contamination burden?

Answer: Patient bed rail

Bed rails are among the highest-touch surfaces in patient rooms and consistently harbor pathogens including MRSA, VRE, and C. difficile.

A facility is upgrading its HVAC system. Which filter efficiency rating is required for areas housing severely immunocompromised patients such as bone marrow transplant recipients?

Answer: MERV 17 (HEPA)

HEPA filters (MERV 17 or higher, 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 microns) are required for protective environment rooms serving severely immunocompromised patients.

When should terminal cleaning of a patient room occur?

Answer: After every patient discharge regardless of infection status

Terminal cleaning after every patient discharge removes potential pathogens left by any patient, not just those with known infections.

Which water system problem in healthcare facilities is most directly associated with Legionella pneumophila outbreaks?

Answer: Water stagnation in low-flow areas and temperatures between 25–45°C

Legionella thrives in water temperatures of 25–45°C and proliferates in stagnant areas such as seldom-used outlets, dead-end pipes, and cooling towers.