Chapter 35: Infection Control Practices [Smartbook]

List the order in which to remove contaminated PPE, with the first step on top.

1. Gloves 2. Mask/face shield 3. Gown

List the order in which to apply clean PPE, with the first step on top.

1. Gown 2. Mask/face shield 3. Gloves

Which of the following apply to medical asepsis?

All employees should observe the principles of medical asepsis. The office should be inspected daily for contamination. Vigilant cleanliness promotes asepsis.

Which of the following statements are true of sterilization?

All instruments and supplies that penetrate a patient's skin must be sterilized. An item is either considered sterile or unsterile.

Which of the following are infection control practices that must be followed by healthcare practitioners when working with central lines?

Allow skin prep agent to fully dry before inserting the catheter. Use a large drape to cover the site during the procedure. Perform appropriate skin antisepsis at the site.

Which of the following patient directions should be given the day of surgery?

Ask to speak with the surgeon prior to allowing healthcare workers to shave you Take prescribed medications as instructed by your healthcare professional Speak up if healthcare workers fail to wash their hands

Match the infection control terms with the definitions.

Autoclave - Device that uses pressurized steam to sterilize instruments and equipment. Medical asepsis - Measures taken to reduce the number of microorganisms present, such as handwashing. Surgical asepsis - The elimination of all microorganisms from objects or a working area. Biological indicator - Used as quality control to ensure that sterilization has occurred.

What is generally considered the simplest and most effective method for sterilizing instruments and equipment?

Autoclaving

What is the primary method for sterilizing equipment and instruments?

Autoclaving

Which of the following methods are used to sterilize instruments and equipment?

Autoclaving Chemical (cold) processes

Patients with urinary catheters should be instructed to do which of the following?

Avoid kinks or twists in the tubing Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the catheter

What work practice controls should be used to avoid needlesticks?

Avoid overfilling sharps containers Immediately use the safety devices on needles

Which of the following are appropriate instructions for patients who have central lines?

Avoid touching the catheter insertion site. Avoid touching the tubing. Contact the office if the dressing becomes wet or dirty.

Which of the following promote asepsis?

Avoid touching your face and mouth Avoid leaning against sinks and supplies Using tissues for sneezes and coughs

Why are patients who have long-term urinary catheter use at greater risk for catheter-associated urinary tract infections?

Bacteria can enter the urinary tract by way of the catheter

Reporting of any previous postsurgical infections to the healthcare practitioner should be done ______ the surgery.

Before

Which of the following would cause trapped air in the chamber of the autoclave, rendering the load unsterile?

Blocked lines or valves

What agency has a variety of posters for infection control in several languages that can be obtained free of charge or for a nominal fee?

CDC

What should patients do if they see any signs of infection after a surgical procedure?

Call the office

What is the best way to prevent accumulation of deposits that might affect an autoclave's operation?

Cleaning the unit after each use

What does the CDC recommend healthcare workers use for the removal of hair prior to a surgical procedure?

Clippers

Which infection is associated with elderly patients taking antibiotics for a prolonged period of time?

Clostridium difficile

Which of the following infections is characterized by watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain?

Clostridium difficile

In what ways can virus-filled respiratory droplets be delivered to the air?

Coughing Sneezing

Central line-associated bloodstream infections are associated with:

Deep veins

Before preheating the autoclave, it should be checked for which of the following?

Deposits that may have formed on inner surfaces No obstructions in the discharge lines and valves Solutions that may have boiled over

Healthcare associated infections are often associated with:

Devices used during medical procedures. Surgical site infection

Match the type of medical glove with the description.

Disposable gloves - Worn once and discarded Examination gloves - Worn during procedures that do not require a sterile environment Sterile gloves - Used for sterile procedures such as minor surgery Utility gloves - Used when cleaning up. They are stronger than other types of gloves and can be reused

What type of water should be used in an autoclave?

Distilled water

What patient directions should be given after the surgery?

Do not allow family or friends to touch the wound Wash your hands before and after caring for the wound Call the office if you see any signs of infection

Which of the following practices helps promote asepsis in the office?

Emptying the trash daily Asking patients to use tissues for coughs and sneezes

Most SSIs are ______.

Endogenous

A microorganism that is brought into a surgical site by medical instruments or equipment would be considered ______.

Exogenous

A healthcare professional who is infected with HIV or HBV should not perform procedures that might expose the patient to the disease without advice from a(n):

Expert review panel.

Which of the following are appropriate infection control practices associated with caring for central lines?

Follow proper hand hygiene Cover the site with a large drape during the procedure

The key to preventing MRSA is:

Good hand hygiene

What type of autoclaves have three gauges and a timer?

Manual

Which of the following are examples of personal protective equipment?

Masks Gloves

Which of the following diseases can be transmitted through respiratory droplets?

Measles Meningitis Influenza Whooping cough

Which of the following is based on maintaining cleanliness to prevent the spread of microorganisms?

Medical asepsis Clean technique

Which of the following is a bacteria that has become resistant to common antibiotics, making it difficult to treat?

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Which of the following statements are true of autoclaves?

Modern autoclaves operate as automatically as possible. Exact temperature and pressure requirements vary with the model and type of autoclave. Typically, the chamber pressure gauge must show 15-30 pounds of pressure.

Which of the following works by permeating the instrument wrappings in an autoclave?

Moist heat (steam)

All packs wrapped in ______ must be double wrapped.

Muslin

What type of veins are central lines typically placed?

Neck Groin Chest

When there is a potential for splashing or spraying, you must protect your:

Nose Mouth Eyes

Healthcare-associated infections were formerly known as:

Nosocomial infections

Which of the following are classifications of surgical wounds?

Organ/space Deep incisional Superficial incisional

Which of the following reminders for infection control should be listed on posters?

Perform hand hygiene after coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs. Cough and sneeze into disposable tissue and discard in an appropriate waste receptacle.

Which of the following are types of materials that can be used to wrap instruments for sterilization?

Permeable paper Disposable nonwoven fabric Clear plastic envelopes Muslin

Which of the following helps physically reduced the risk of exposure to infection in the healthcare setting?

Personal protective equipment

Match the infection control key terms with the definitions.

Personal protective equipment - Gear worn to protect against physical hazards. Invasive procedure - Procedure that requires entry into a body cavity or cutting into skin or mucous membrane. Central line - Catheter placed in a large vein used to give fluids and medications. Sterilization indicator - An insert that confirms that the items in an autoclave have been exposed to the correct volume of steam and temperature for the correct amount of time.

When opening a sterile container, you should:

Place the lid face up

Which of the following are symptoms of superficial incisional infections?

Purulent drainage from the surgical wound Positive wound culture from the site Redness, swelling, and heat at the wound site

Which of the following are considered noncritical items in terms of disinfection and sterilization?

Reflex hammers Blood pressure cuffs

When caring for a central line, you should:

Report any fevers or chills

Simple and effective practices for defending yourself and others against infectious agents spread by respiratory droplets is called:

Respiratory hygiene

Which of the following apply to reprocessing equipment in a medical office?

Responsible personnel should wear appropriate PPE. Equipment must be cleaned to remove organic material prior to disinfection. It should be routinely monitored. It must be done according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Devices that are specifically engineered to reduce the incidence of needlestick injuries are called:

Safety-engineered devices.

Match the safety-device with the appropriate description.

Self-sheathing needles - Needles have a sheath over the barrel of the needle Retractable needles - The needle retracts inside barrel of the syringe after its activated Self-blunting needle - Needles with a blunt tip that slides forward through the needle past the sharp point Re-sheathing needles - The practitioner slides a sheath over the needle, locking it into place

Which of the following is required for sterilization to occur in an autoclave?

Steam under pressure

In the medical office, the most common SSIs seen are ______.

Superficial incisional

Match the classifications of surgical wounds with their descriptions:

Superficial incisional - Involves only the skin and subcutaneous tissue Deep incisional - Involves tissues such as fascia and muscle Organ/space - Excludes skin, fascia, and muscle, and includes body organs and cavities

Which type of procedures require the use of eyewear and face shields?

Surgery Dental surgery

Which of the following depends on a completely sterile environment that eliminates all microorganisms?

Surgical asepsis Sterile technique

Which of the following items need to be sterilized?

Surgical instruments Suture removal instruments Curettes Vaginal specula

Which of the following patients are at greatest risk for healthcare associated infections?

Surgical procedures Immunocompromised patients

A(n) ______ is an infection that occurs at the site of a surgery after a surgical procedure.

Surgical site infection

Which of the following would have the highest risk of infection?

Suturing a cut on the inside of a patient's mouth

Which of the following patient directions should be given before the procedure?

Tell your doctor if you have diabetes Eat well and get plenty of rest

Which of the following do sterilization indicators in an autoclave confirm?

The correct temperature has been reached The load was run for the correct length of time The correct volume of steam

For infection control purposes, equipment is categorized based on which of the following?

The level of disinfection or sterilization necessary for reuse.

What is the result of the temperature in an autoclave being too low?

The steam contains too much moisture

What could cause the steam in an autoclave to not have the correct moisture level?

The temperature is too low The temperature is too high

If a healthcare worker is infected with HIV or HBV, who may serve on the panel that determines what procedures they can and cannot perform?

The worker's physician Public health official

Which of the following procedures are categorized by the CDC as high risk for disease transmission?

Those involving needles Obstetric and gynecological procedures

The most common means of transmission of infectious agents is:

Touching

Who should perform equipment reprocessing?

Trained professionals

If the sterility status of an item is unknown, it should be considered ______.

Unsterile

Which of the following is included in the CDC's guidelines for safe injection practices?

Use aseptic technique to avoid contamination Do not keep multi-dose vials in the immediate treatment area

Which of the following promote asepsis in a medical environment?

Using tissues for sneezes and coughs Staying at home when you have a fever

Sarala has been practicing good cough etiquette and covering her mouth with her hand when she coughs. Although this may prevent others from contracting an illness through the air, she must still do what to prevent contamination by touch?

Wash her hands after coughing

Which of the following standard precautions should be taken during the autoclave process?

Wear gloves Wash hands thoroughly after all cleaning procedures Take measures to prevent needlesticks or cuts from sharps

Which of the following actions would be appropriate ways to handle patients with coughs during local or regional outbreaks?

Wear gloves, a gown, goggles and a mask if a patient is coughing uncontrollably or if there is considerable spray. Have masks of all sizes available to patients. Wear a mask when assisting patients who are coughing. Isolate patients who are coughing in a separate reception area.

When should the timing for items to be sterilized start?

When the unit has reached the proper temperature

During local or regional outbreaks, it may be necessary to ask a patient who is coughing to wear ______.

A mask

Generally, double-layer fabric or paper-wrapped packages are considered sterile for ______ days.

30

What agent should be used to clean the top of medication vials?

70% isopropyl alcohol

How many needlestick injuries occur each year?

800,000

When administering tablets or pills, you should pour them into:

A cup The cap

The purpose of sterilization indicators is to show that the contents of the load:

Have been exposed to conditions that typically result in sterilization

An infection acquired by a patient in a healthcare setting is known as a(n):

Healthcare associated infection.

When must gloves be used?

If there is exposure to body fluid If there is exposure to blood

Which of the following patients are at greatest risk for healthcare associated infections?

Immunocompromised patients Patients who just had surgical procedures Patients who use catheters

What are the four leading factors that cause incomplete sterilization?

Inadequate steam levels Insufficient temperature Incorrect timing Overcrowding of packs

Which of the following are ways in which you can promote medical asepsis?

Inspect the office for contaminated surfaces.

What is a potential consequence of overcrowding an autoclave with instruments?

Instruments may not be sterilized

Which of the following steps should be taken to ensure an aseptic office environment?

Keep furniture in good repair. Provide insect-free environment.

How can SSIs be avoided?

Let the patient be involved with the process Give clear instructions to the patients on what to do before and after the surgery

How long should the heating cycle last in an autoclave?

Long enough to allow steam to permeate all wrappings