Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards

A wound care nurse notes that a patient's pressure injury has increased pain, warmth, and new purulent exudate. The FIRST priority intervention is to:

Answer: Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture

Clinical signs of infection require prompt notification of the provider and appropriate wound culture collection before any antibiotic or advanced treatment is initiated.

Which factor in a patient's history MOST significantly increases the risk of wound infection?

Answer: Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c > 9%)

Poorly controlled diabetes impairs neutrophil function, reduces tissue oxygenation, and promotes bacterial growth, making it one of the strongest risk factors for wound infection.

When removing a contaminated wound dressing, the wound care nurse should:

Answer: Use clean gloves for removal, then perform hand hygiene and apply sterile gloves for wound assessment

Clean gloves are appropriate for removing the soiled dressing; hand hygiene followed by sterile (or new clean) gloves are required before touching the wound to prevent cross-contamination.

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) is used as a wound antiseptic primarily because it:

Answer: Has broad-spectrum antimicrobial action with low cytotoxicity to host cells

PHMB disrupts bacterial cell membranes across a broad spectrum while demonstrating relatively low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, making it suitable for use in wound beds.

Which assessment finding in a surgical wound during the first 24-48 hours postoperatively should be reported immediately as a potential sign of infection?

Answer: Crepitus (crackling sensation) palpated around the wound

Crepitus around a surgical wound in the early postoperative period suggests gas-producing organisms such as Clostridium species and represents a surgical emergency.

Which statement about using topical antimicrobials for infected wounds is MOST accurate?

Answer: Topical antimicrobials are preferred over systemic antibiotics for superficial wound infections and critical colonization

Topical antimicrobials are the preferred first-line approach for superficial wound infections and critically colonized wounds, while systemic antibiotics are reserved for spreading or systemic infections.

A wound exhibiting the NERDS acronym criteria is best described as having:

Answer: Superficial critical colonization that may respond to topical antimicrobials

NERDS (Non-healing, Exudate increase, Red/bleeding, Debris, Smell) identifies superficial critical colonization; this level of wound burden typically responds to topical antimicrobial dressings.