Safety and Infection Control Flashcards

According to the CDC's hand hygiene guidelines, when is it ACCEPTABLE to use alcohol-based hand rub instead of soap and water?

Answer: Before and after patient contact when hands are not visibly soiled

Alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred method for most clinical situations when hands are not visibly soiled, as it is more effective and less damaging to skin.

A patient with neutropenia is placed in protective (reverse) isolation. What is the PRIMARY goal of this precaution?

Answer: To protect the immunocompromised patient from acquiring infections from the environment

Protective isolation (reverse isolation) is used to protect severely immunocompromised patients from environmental pathogens that a healthy immune system would normally resist.

During a surgical scrub, how long should the hands and forearms be scrubbed using the time-based method?

Answer: 3-5 minutes

A 3-5 minute surgical scrub of hands and forearms is the standard time-based method to achieve the required reduction in microbial counts before surgery.

What does 'standard precautions' assume about all patients?

Answer: All patients are infectious and their blood and body fluids are potentially hazardous

Standard precautions treat all patients' blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat) as potentially infectious, regardless of diagnosis.

A nurse notices that a fire has started in a patient's room. Using the RACE acronym, what is the FIRST action?

Answer: Rescue patients in immediate danger

The first step in RACE is to Rescue — remove patients in immediate danger from the fire before any other action.

Which of the following is the correct technique for removing a contaminated gown after patient care?

Answer: Unfasten ties, roll the gown inside-out away from the body, and discard without touching the outside

Rolling the gown inside-out while removing it contains the contaminated outer surface and prevents transfer of pathogens during doffing.

A patient is found to be colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). Which statement about VRE colonization is correct?

Answer: Colonized patients harbor VRE without signs of infection but can transmit it to others

VRE colonization means the organism is present on or in the patient without causing active infection, but the patient can still transmit VRE to others, requiring contact precautions.