Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

A healthcare analyst reviews data showing that VAP (ventilator-associated pneumonia) rates increased after changing the oral care protocol. The FIRST analytic step should be:

Answer: Perform a run chart analysis to determine if the increase exceeds normal process variation

A run chart or control chart distinguishes common-cause variation from a true special-cause signal before attributing the change to the protocol modification.

Which of the following is the correct order for donning PPE when entering a contact/droplet precaution room?

Answer: Gown → Mask → Eye Protection → Gloves

CDC donning sequence: gown first (largest barrier), then mask, eye protection, and finally gloves last so contaminated gloves never touch the face.

Under CMS Conditions of Participation, hospitals must report which of the following to the state health department?

Answer: Notifiable communicable diseases as defined by state law

Mandatory reporting requirements are defined by each state's list of reportable conditions; hospitals must comply with state law for communicable disease notification.

A patient is placed on neutropenic (protective environment) precautions. Which statement about this precaution type is correct?

Answer: It uses positive-pressure HEPA-filtered rooms to protect the immunocompromised patient

Protective environment uses positive-pressure, HEPA-filtered rooms to prevent environmental organisms from reaching severely immunocompromised patients such as bone marrow transplant recipients.

Which process measure is most directly linked to reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)?

Answer: Daily assessment of catheter necessity with prompt removal when no longer indicated

Daily necessity review and removal of unnecessary catheters is the single most evidence-based intervention for CAUTI reduction because device duration is the primary risk factor.

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to include how many standardized sections?

Answer: 16

GHS-aligned HazCom 2012 mandates a standardized 16-section SDS format so healthcare workers can quickly locate hazard, handling, and emergency response information.

A healthcare analyst is benchmarking a hospital's SSI rate using NHSN data. Which variable MUST be risk-adjusted to make valid comparisons across facilities?

Answer: Operative procedure category and wound class

NHSN SSI SIRs are risk-stratified by procedure type and wound class because infection risk varies dramatically between, for example, a clean hernia repair and a contaminated colon resection.