Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology Flashcards

What is the single most effective method to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?

Answer: Proper hand hygiene

Proper hand hygiene remains the cornerstone of infection prevention as it breaks the chain of transmission most effectively.

Standard precautions in healthcare settings apply to:

Answer: All patients regardless of known infectious status

Standard precautions apply universally to all patients because infectious status is not always known at the time of care.

According to WHO's 'Five Moments of Hand Hygiene,' when should healthcare workers perform hand hygiene?

Answer: Before patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, and after touching patient surroundings

WHO's Five Moments cover the full cycle of care — before touching the patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching the patient, and after touching patient surroundings.

Which type of transmission-based precaution is required for a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis?

Answer: Airborne precautions

TB is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei (<5 µm) that remain suspended in air, requiring airborne precautions including a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.

What is the correct sequence for donning (putting on) PPE?

Answer: Gown → Mask/respirator → Eye protection → Gloves

Donning proceeds from the largest item to the smallest: gown first (body protection), then mask/respirator, then eye protection, and finally gloves (which cover cuffs of the gown).

When hands are visibly soiled with blood or body fluids, the recommended hand decontamination method is:

Answer: Soap and water

Alcohol-based hand rubs are ineffective at removing visible soil or organic matter; soap and water must be used when hands are visibly dirty.

A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is formally defined as an infection that:

Answer: Develops 48 hours or more after hospital admission and was not present on admission

The standard definition of a HAI requires that the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission and manifests 48 hours or more after the patient was admitted.