Chapter 10 Asepsis

The nurse is preparing a sterile field for a procedure in the client's presence. Which is the most appropriate instruction to give the client in this situation?

"I have set up this sterile field for your procedure, so please do not touch anything around the tray."

The nurse triaged a number of clients in the emergency department. Which client(s) does the nurse identify as at risk for an infection? Select all that apply.

1. the client who has AIDS and is taking antiretroviral medications 2. the client who reports abdominal pain for 1 day and exhibits an elevated white blood cell count 3. the client who has breast cancer, is receiving chemotherapy, and has a low white blood cell (WBC) count 4. the older adult client who is cachectic in appearance

The nurse is caring for a client admitted with tuberculosis (TB). What would be the best action by the nurse?

Apply a nonparticulate (N-95) respirator when entering the room.

A client who has had abdominal surgery develops an infection in the wound while still hospitalized. Which precautions are implemented by the nurse to prevent the spread of infection?

Contact precautions

The nurse has completed an intervention with a client. There is no visible soiling on the nurse's hands. Which technique is recommended by infection control practice standards for hand hygiene?

Decontaminate hands using an alcohol-based hand rub.

When preparing a sterile field, the nurse notes that the bottle of sterile saline was opened 48 hours ago and is half full. What action does the nurse take to ensure that the saline used is sterile?

Discard the bottle and get a new one because the saline has expired.

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with influenza and acute otitis media. Which is the most effective action the nurse can teach the client's family to prevent the spread of infection?

Hand hygiene

A client comes to the emergency department with major burns over 40% of the body. Although all of the following are true, which one would provide the rationale for a nursing concern of infection risk?

Intact skin and mucous membranes protect against microbial invasion.

A 12-year-old is being hospitalized for pneumonia. The nurse receives the client's culture and sensitivity report on her tracheal aspirate. The client is infected with a strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is particularly prone to cause infections, also referred to as what?

Pathogenic

Following a demonstration to a family member on how to insert a straight catheter, the nurse instructs the family member to remove the gloves by inverting one glove into the other. Which step would the nurse instruct the family member to do next?

Perform hand hygiene

What is an accurate guideline for the use of PPE?

Replace gloves if they are visibly soiled. If gloves become torn or heavily soiled, they should be removed and replaced. PPE should be put on before entering the client's room and glasses should not be substituted for protective eyewear. Work should progress from "clean" areas to "dirty" areas.

The nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized and has an indwelling urethral catheter. Which finding would most likely indicate the client has developed an infection?

Urine culture is positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

The nurse is preparing to insert an intravenous catheter into a client. Which infection control procedure will the nurse use to ensure safe client care?

Use a sterile intravenous catheter.

Surgical asepsis is defined as:

absence of all microorganisms.

The nurse caring for clients at an outpatient clinic determines that which client is at greatest risk for infection?

an 80-year-old woman

A client suffers from bloody diarrhea after eating contaminated food at a local restaurant. The client has been infected with a(an):

bacteria

The nurse is caring for a client with a surgical wound. Which action by the nurse best reduces the reservoir of infection?

changing the soiled dressing

The nurse is assisting a client with a history of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE). What precaution should the nurse implement?

contact precautions

The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a family member who will be caring for a client with an abdominal incision. Which concept should be the priority in the teaching plan?

hand washing

The nurse is using aseptic technique to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which technique made by the nurse is correct?

keeping sterile field above waist level

A client has an inguinal hernia repair and later develops a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. What is the most important factor to prevent this infection?

surgical asepsis

A nurse is educating a rural community group on how to avoid contracting West Nile virus by using approved insect repellant and wearing proper coverings when outdoors. By what means is the pathogen involved in West Nile virus transmitted?

vectors

Which care intervention should the nurse anticipate when providing care to a client admitted with a possible diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB)?

wearing a particulate respirator for all care and interaction with this client