Infection Prevention Flashcards
7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Prevention flashcards as text
A nurse prepares to access an implanted port. Which skin antiseptic and contact time is recommended by INS standards before needle insertion?
Answer: >0.5% chlorhexidine in alcohol with 30-second scrub and full dry time
INS standards recommend chlorhexidine gluconate (>0.5%) in alcohol applied with friction for at least 30 seconds, followed by complete drying before accessing an implanted port.
Which factor most significantly increases a patient's risk of developing a CLABSI?
Answer: Use of a triple-lumen catheter versus a single-lumen catheter
Multi-lumen catheters have more access points, increasing opportunities for hub contamination and microbial entry, which raises CLABSI risk compared to single-lumen catheters.
During a central line dressing change, a nurse notes the transparent semipermeable membrane (TSM) dressing is lifting at the edges but the site appears clean. The correct action is to:
Answer: Change the dressing immediately, as a non-intact dressing increases infection risk
A dressing that is no longer intact, wet, or lifting compromises the sterile barrier and must be changed promptly regardless of scheduled interval.
Which of the following is the most appropriate catheter site for reducing CLABSI risk in non-tunneled central venous catheters in adult patients?
Answer: Subclavian vein
The subclavian site is associated with the lowest CLABSI and thrombosis rates among non-tunneled CVC insertion sites in adults per CDC guidelines.
What is the purpose of performing daily 'line necessity' reviews for central venous catheters?
Answer: To ensure catheters are removed promptly when no longer clinically needed, reducing infection risk
Daily necessity reviews are a core CLABSI bundle element; prompt removal of unnecessary catheters is one of the most effective ways to reduce infection risk.
A patient with a tunneled hemodialysis catheter is prescribed an antibiotic lock solution. What is the PRIMARY goal of this therapy?
Answer: To sterilize the catheter lumen and eradicate intraluminal biofilm without catheter removal
Antibiotic lock therapy delivers high-concentration antibiotics directly into the catheter lumen to eradicate biofilm-associated organisms, potentially allowing catheter salvage.
When using maximal sterile barrier precautions for CVC insertion, which personal protective equipment is required for the inserting clinician?
Answer: Sterile gloves, sterile gown, cap, mask, and large sterile drape covering the patient
Maximal sterile barrier precautions include sterile gloves, sterile gown, cap, surgical mask, and a large sterile drape covering the entire patient to minimize contamination risk.