Infection Prevention and Control Flashcards

During a survey, you observe that staff are wearing the same gloves while moving between resident rooms. Which infection control principle is being violated?

Answer: Glove change between patients to prevent cross-contamination

Gloves must be changed between patients and hand hygiene performed to prevent transferring pathogens from one resident to another.

A nursing home resident has been diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). What is the MOST appropriate isolation precaution?

Answer: Contact precautions with gown and gloves

C. diff is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through spores on surfaces, requiring contact precautions including gown and gloves.

Which hand hygiene agent is NOT effective against Clostridioides difficile spores?

Answer: Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill C. diff spores; soap and water with friction is required to physically remove them.

A surveyor identifies that a facility's MDRO (multidrug-resistant organism) surveillance program lacks active surveillance cultures. What is the PRIMARY concern?

Answer: Failure to identify colonized residents who can transmit the organism

Without active surveillance cultures, colonized but asymptomatic residents may go unidentified, allowing silent transmission of MDROs.

Under the CMS infection control regulations, what is required when a resident is placed on transmission-based precautions?

Answer: Education of the resident about their precaution status and the reason

Residents have the right to know why precautions are being used, and education must be provided to support their understanding and cooperation.

Which of the following practices BEST demonstrates appropriate respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette in a long-term care setting?

Answer: Providing tissues, waste receptacles, and hand sanitizer at the entrance

Providing tissues, no-touch waste disposal, and hand hygiene supplies at points of entry is the recommended approach for respiratory hygiene.

A surveyor reviews a facility's antibiotic stewardship program. Which element is MOST critical to evaluate first?

Answer: Whether a physician reviews and documents clinical indication for each antibiotic order

Antibiotic stewardship requires documented clinical justification for each order to ensure antibiotics are prescribed only when appropriate.