Safety and Infection Control Flashcards

A psychiatric patient is admitted with a history of intravenous drug use. Which bloodborne virus screening should routinely be offered on admission?

Answer: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV

UK guidelines recommend offering screening for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV to all patients with a history of intravenous drug use on admission.

A patient detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act refuses to allow nursing staff to administer their depot antipsychotic. Under the MHA 1983, what is the correct procedure after three months of detention?

Answer: Obtain a Second Opinion Appointed Doctor (SOAD) certificate before continuing to treat against the patient's will

After three months, medication for mental disorder given to a detained patient who lacks or refuses consent requires a SOAD certificate (T3 form) under Section 58 of the MHA.

In the context of psychiatric inpatient care, what is the primary purpose of 'safe sleep' room design principles?

Answer: To minimize ligature points and environmental hazards that could facilitate self-harm

Safe sleep room design in psychiatric settings focuses on removing or minimizing ligature anchor points and other environmental hazards to reduce self-harm risk.

An elderly patient with dementia on a psychiatric ward develops a fever and confusion. Urinalysis shows pyuria. Which infection control consideration is MOST important when treating presumed urinary tract infection?

Answer: Targeted antibiotic choice guided by local resistance patterns and urine culture to minimise C. diff risk

Antibiotic stewardship requires choosing antibiotics based on local resistance patterns and culture results to treat effectively while minimising risk of C. diff and resistance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which ventilation approach was specifically recommended for aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) in inpatient psychiatric settings?

Answer: Negative pressure rooms or adequate air changes per hour with FFP3 respirators

AGPs require negative pressure or adequately ventilated rooms and FFP3 respirators to prevent airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens.

A nursing assistant sustains a splash of a patient's blood to the eye while managing an aggressive patient. The source patient is known to be Hepatitis B non-immune. What is the appropriate post-exposure management?

Answer: Irrigate the eye immediately, then assess for HBIG and/or hepatitis B vaccination booster based on the nursing assistant's immune status

After mucosal blood exposure, immediate irrigation is followed by assessment of the exposed person's Hepatitis B immunity to guide need for HBIG and/or vaccine booster.

A community mental health team receives a safeguarding referral for a child whose parent is a patient with severe bipolar disorder experiencing an acute episode. Under which framework should the CMHT primarily operate to protect the child?

Answer: Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and Children Act 1989/2004

Child safeguarding concerns are addressed under Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and the Children Act 1989/2004, regardless of the parent's mental health status.