Infection Control & Universal Precautions Flashcards

According to standard precautions, when must an orthotic fitter wear gloves during patient contact?

Answer: Whenever contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes is possible

Standard precautions require gloves whenever there is a possibility of contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, or mucous membranes — regardless of whether the patient is known to be infectious. The 'standard' means this applies to all patients universally.

A prefabricated orthosis was trialed on a patient with a draining wound and must be decontaminated before use on another patient. What is the correct sequence?

Answer: Clean to remove organic material first, then disinfect

Cleaning must precede disinfection because organic material (blood, exudate) neutralizes most chemical disinfectants, rendering them ineffective. The correct sequence is always: clean (remove organic debris), then disinfect (kill pathogens).

Which container is required for the disposal of sharps (needles, lancets) encountered in an orthotic fitting environment?

Answer: A labeled, puncture-resistant sharps container

Sharps must be placed immediately and directly into a puncture-resistant, clearly labeled sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries. Red biohazard bags are not puncture-resistant. Sharps should never be placed in regular trash or stored loosely.

An orthotic fitter is assessing a patient's wound before fitting a foot orthosis. There is a risk of wound irrigation splashing. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is minimally required?

Answer: Gloves and eye protection

At minimum, gloves are required for wound contact. When splashing of body fluids is anticipated (e.g., wound irrigation), eye protection must be added to protect mucous membranes. Full PPE is reserved for higher-risk splash situations, not every wound assessment.

Which statement best defines 'standard precautions' as applied in a clinical orthotics setting?

Answer: Treating every patient as potentially infectious to prevent pathogen transmission

Standard precautions — formerly called universal precautions — assume that any patient's blood or body fluids may be infectious, regardless of diagnosis or apparent health status. This universal application is the core principle.

After fitting a diabetic patient with an insole, the fitter notices a small blood stain on the examination table. The correct immediate response is to:

Answer: Clean the area with soap and water to remove organic material, then disinfect with an EPA-registered disinfectant

Blood on environmental surfaces requires a two-step process: first clean to remove organic material (which would otherwise neutralize disinfectants), then disinfect with an appropriate EPA-registered product effective against bloodborne pathogens. The fitter is responsible for immediate remediation, not deferral.