NCWO Infection Prevention and Control 3

Question 1

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:

Accepted Answer

Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture

Answer

Apply an occlusive dressing and reassess in 48 hours

Answer

Increase dressing change frequency to every 4 hours

Answer

Initiate isolation precautions and apply silver dressing independently

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c > 9%)

Answer

Age over 50 years

Answer

BMI between 25-29.9

Answer

History of penicillin allergy

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Remove the dressing with bare hands and immediately wash hands afterward

Answer

Use the same gloves for dressing removal and wound assessment to minimize waste

Answer

Remove the dressing without gloves if the wound has no visible drainage

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Promotes rapid eschar formation over wound beds

Answer

Works exclusively against gram-positive organisms

Answer

Is recommended for deep tunneling wounds where iodine is contraindicated

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Crepitus (crackling sensation) palpated around the wound

Answer

Mild serosanguineous drainage at the incision site

Answer

Slight swelling and redness at the wound edges

Answer

A small amount of serous exudate on the dressing

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Topical antimicrobials eliminate the need for systemic antibiotics in all wound infections

Answer

Topical antimicrobials should not be used alongside systemic antibiotics

Answer

Topical antimicrobials are only effective against aerobic bacteria

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Superficial critical colonization that may respond to topical antimicrobials

Answer

Deep tissue infection requiring surgical debridement

Answer

Systemic infection requiring hospitalization

Answer

A wound in the proliferative phase of healing