MRCPsych Safety and Infection Control 4

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV

Answer

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

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

(MRCPsych) Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Practice Test

(MRCPsych) Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Practice Test

MRCPsych Safety and Infection Control 4