Chapter 24: Asepsis and infection control

The nurse is caring for a client who is to have a sterile dressing change to a wound. A student nurse enters the client's room and notices the nurse preparing the sterile field. After reviewing the image, which response by the student nurse to the nurse is the most accurate understanding of this procedure? "It is okay to turn the drape on the other side." "I use my whole hand to touch the non-waterproof surface before placing the sterile equipment on it." "The way you are doing it helps to minimize contamination of the non-waterproof side." "Using either side of the drape is okay, as long as you do not contaminate the sterile supplies on the field."

"The way you are doing it helps to minimize contamination of the non-waterproof side."

A client admitted for fever, crackles in the lungs, and cough asks the nurse, "If they do not know what type of bacteria caused my pneumonia, why are they giving me these antibiotics?" What is the appropriate response by the nurse? "We are giving you broad spectrum antibiotics because they are active for many types of bacteria." "You cannot be admitted to the hospital with pneumonia without receiving some sort of antibiotics." "We give antibiotics to treat the virus that are causing your the pneumonia." "The antibiotics we are giving you will boost your immune system and help fight off whatever pathogen is present."

"We are giving you broad spectrum antibiotics because they are active for many types of bacteria."

The nurse is preparing to help mobilize a client with an abdominal wound that is colonized by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which of the shown actions should the nurse perform before assisting the client?

Glove up

When preparing to use a bottle of sterile saline for a dressing change, the nurse notes that the date it was opened was two days ago. What should the nurse do?

Obtain a new bottle of sterile saline

What is an accurate guideline for the use of PPE? Put on PPE after entering the client's room. Substitute personal glasses for protective eyewear, if desired. Replace gloves if they are visibly soiled. When wearing gloves, work from "dirty" areas to "clean" ones.

Replace gloves if they are visibly soiled.

Which factor has contributed to resistant microbial strains? antibiotic use for bacterial infections use of antibiotics in clients with viral infections use of topical antibiotics on skin abrasions mutation of common disease-causing viruses

Use of antibiotics in clients with viral infections

Which client would require a negative flow room? a 21-year-old man with latent tuberculosis who is postoperative following repair of a femoral fracture a 4-year-old boy with meningitis an 81-year-old man with active tuberculosis and a productive cough a 3-year-old with influenza A and a productive cough

an 81-year-old man with active tuberculosis and a productive cough

For which client would the use of standard precautions along be appropriate? a) a client with diphtheria who needs p.m. care b) a client with TB who needs medications administered c) an incontinent client in a nursing home who has diarrhea d) a child with chickenpox who is treated in the emergency room

an incontinent client in a nursing home who has diarrhea

When an 86-year-old client reports an inability to concentrate, uneasiness, lightheadedness, weakness, muscle and joint discomfort, and demonstrates normal temperature, the clinic nurse recalls that:

an older adult can have an infection without a fever

The process of phagocytosis involves:

digestion of microbes by white blood cells

The nurse is getting ready to change the client's wound dressing. Which step best supports infection control?

handwashing

A nurse has been exposed to feces while changing the linens of a client's bed. Which guideline is followed for performing handwashing after this client encounter? Use an alcohol-based hand rub to decontaminate the hands. Remove all jewelry, including wedding bands, before hand washing. Keep hands lower than elbows to allow water to flow toward fingertips. Pat dry with a paper towel, beginning with the forearms and moving down to fingertips.

keep hands lower than elbows to allow water to flow toward fingertips.

A nurse is taking care of a client with tuberculosis who has developed resistance to the ordered antibiotic. Which type of client is most likely at increased risk for infection? adult child older adult pregnant woman

older adult

Any microorganism capable of disrupting normal physiologic body processes is a:

pathogen

The nurse prepares for a sterile procedure. Of those listed, what action does the nurse perform first?

perform hand hygiene

The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) collecting a urine specimen from a client with Staphylococcus aureus infection. Which action by the UAP would require the nurse to intervene? removes gloves and walks out of the room asks the client to state name and date of birth applies a mask with face shield performs hand hygiene before donning gloves

removes gloves and walks out of the room

The most common infection in children is:

respiratory

When the client who has been diagnosed with hepatitis B has been hospitalized, the type of isolation the nursing staff should observe is: droplet precautions. standard precautions. contact precautions. airborne precautions.

standard precautions

The nurse planning to insert an indwelling urinary catheter into a client should utilize which technique?

surgical asepsis

The most lethal infection in an older adult client is:

urinary