Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

Which of the following best describes the purpose of an Infection Preventionist's (IP) surveillance case definition?

Answer: To establish standardized criteria for identifying HAI events consistently across time

Standardized case definitions ensure that HAIs are counted the same way across facilities and time periods, enabling valid trend analysis and benchmarking.

A patient develops a urinary tract infection 72 hours after Foley catheter insertion. According to NHSN criteria, this is classified as:

Answer: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)

NHSN defines CAUTI as a UTI where an indwelling urinary catheter was in place for more than 2 calendar days on the date of the event, meeting specific lab and symptom criteria.

Under The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals, hospitals must conduct a fall risk assessment using a validated tool. Which of the following is a validated inpatient fall risk screening instrument?

Answer: Morse Fall Scale

The Morse Fall Scale is a validated, widely used tool that scores patients on six variables to stratify fall risk in acute care settings.

When analyzing hand hygiene compliance data, a healthcare analyst finds that compliance is 95% before patient contact but 68% after patient contact. The most effective intervention is:

Answer: Place alcohol-based hand rub dispensers immediately outside each room exit

Point-of-care placement of ABHR at exit points reduces the friction of post-contact hand hygiene, directly targeting the observed compliance gap.

Which regulatory body enforces the National Exposure Limits for hazardous chemicals in healthcare environments?

Answer: OSHA

OSHA sets and enforces Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for hazardous chemicals in the workplace under 29 CFR 1910 standards.

A healthcare analyst is reviewing Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) data and notes prophylactic antibiotic administration averaging 90 minutes before incision. What is the recommended window for most surgical prophylaxis?

Answer: 30–60 minutes before incision

Most guidelines recommend prophylactic antibiotics be administered within 60 minutes before incision (120 minutes for vancomycin/fluoroquinolones) to achieve adequate tissue levels.

Which type of transmission-based precaution requires gown and gloves for all room entry regardless of anticipated contact?

Answer: Contact precautions

Contact precautions mandate donning gown and gloves upon entering the patient's room because environmental surfaces and patient skin are potential transmission vectors.