Prep U Chapter 24: Asepsis and Infection Control

The mother of a newborn asks the nurse about her newborn's risk for infection. Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate? a. "Your baby's resistance comes from the antibodies you passed on to him before birth and now with breast feeding." b. "It usually takes about a month or two until the baby's immune system to become completely functional." c. "Infections in newborns are rare because they have little difficulty localizing infections" d. "If you notice that the newborn has a fever, then you need to have him seen by the doctor fairly quickly."

a. "Your baby's resistance comes from the antibodies you passed on to him before birth and now with breast feeding."

Which client presents the most significant risk factors for the development of Clostridium difficile infection? a. An 81-year-old client who has been receiving multiple antibiotics for the treatment of sepsis b. A 30-year-old client who has recently contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after engaging in high-risk sexual behavior c. A 44-year-old client who is paralyzed and whose coccyx ulcer has required a skin graft d. A client with renal failure who receives hemodialysis three times weekly

a. An 81-year-old client who has been receiving multiple antibiotics for the treatment of sepsis

About which public health principle should the nurse educate clients to prevent the spread of West Nile virus? a. Avoid contact with mosquitoes b. Use hand sanitizer after touching any public surface c. Self-quarantine yourself for 2 weeks if you feel ill d. Use a face mask when in crowds

a. Avoid contact with mosquitoes

The nurse is inserting an indwelling catheter. What steps will the nurse distinguish as priority in preventing an infection? a. Create an area for sterile field and opening packages b. Place water-soluble lubricant on catheter tip prior to insertion c. Wash the perineal area with soap and water d. Ensure opening port of the catheter is closed

a. Create an area for sterile field and opening packages

Which nursing action carries the greatest likelihood of contributing to the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)? a. Emptying the Foley catheter bag of a client with VRE and then helping the client in the next bed transfer to a chair without washing hands between contact. b. removing the staples from a VRE-positive, postoperative client's incision without prior handwashing c. sending a VRE-positive client to the radiology department for a chest X-ray without a face mask d. delivering a meal tray to a VRE-positive client without first donning gloves and a gown

a. Emptying the Foley catheter bag of a client with VRE and then helping the client in the next bed transfer to a chair without washing hands between contact.

A nurse is caring for a client with ringworm. Which microorganism causes ringworm in a client? a. Fungi b. Rickettsiae c. Protozoans d. Helminths

a. Fungi

Which nursing interventions support infection control in the hospital setting? Select all that apply. a. Regularly turn bedridden clients. b. Apply lubricants to the nares (nostrils) to avoid cracking. c. Avoid the use of hot compresses when possible. d. Dry in-between the skin folds after bathing. e. Use special mattress for immobile clients.

a. Regularly turn bedridden clients. b. Apply lubricants to the nares (nostrils) to avoid cracking. c. Avoid the use of hot compresses when possible. d. Dry in-between the skin folds after bathing. e. Use special mattress for immobile clients.

The nurse begins a task and then realizes that personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed. What is the correct action by the nurse? a. Stop and obtain appropriate PPE. b. Complete the task, then obtain PPE. c. Ask a colleague to perform the task. d. Leave PPE in the room.

a. Stop and obtain appropriate PPE.

A client is to have an indwelling urinary catheter inserted. Which precaution is followed during this procedure? a. Surgical asepsis technique b. Medical asepsis technique c. Droplet precautions d. Strict reverse isolation

a. Surgical asepsis technique

The nurse is teaching a new nurse about preparing a sterile field. Which action made by the new nurse would indicate further teaching is required? a. The new nurse touches 1.5 in (4 cm) from the outer edges. b. The sterile field is set up at waist level. c. Direct visualization of the sterile field is maintained. d. The top flap of the package is opened away from the new nurse's body.

a. The new nurse touches 1.5 in (4 cm) from the outer edges.

The nurse is caring for several clients assigned single rooms on a medical-surgical unit. In which client(s) can the nurse safely carry out hand hygiene using hand sanitizer instead of washing hands with soap and water? Select all that apply. a. The nurse is going from one room to another to introduce themself at the start of the shift. b. The nurse has entered the client's room to adjust settings on the intravenous pump. c. The nurse has just completed documentation and is entering another client's room. d. The nurse is exiting a room after completed indwelling urinary catheter care. e. The nurse has assisted a client with changing and caring for a new colostomy.

a. The nurse is going from one room to another to introduce themself at the start of the shift. b. The nurse has entered the client's room to adjust settings on the intravenous pump. c. The nurse has just completed documentation and is entering another client's room.

A new perioperative nurse is being educated regarding surgical asepsis. What observations by the preceptor would indicate that there is a need for reinforcement of the principles of asepsis? Select all that apply. a. The nurse's back is facing the sterile field. b. The nurse keeps hands above waist level while donning sterile gloves. c. The nurse touches an unsterile object to the instrument tray. d. The nurse is talking with the scrub nurse over the sterile field. e. The nurse disposes of an opened container of sterile saline after 24 hours.

a. The nurse's back is facing the sterile field. c. The nurse touches an unsterile object to the instrument tray. d. The nurse is talking with the scrub nurse over the sterile field.

The nurse and a colleague have admitted a client who is on contact precautions. The nurse and colleague are removing their personal protective equipment and the nurse sees the colleague perform the pictured action. What is the nurse's most appropriate response? a. encourage the colleague to remove the glove by grasping the cuff b. teach the colleague why the gloves should be removed outside the room c. maintain a distance of at least 5 ft (1.5 m) from the colleague d. take no action at this time

a. encourage the colleague to remove the glove by grasping the cuff

A nurse follows surgical asepsis techniques for inserting an indwelling urinary catheter in a client. What is an accurate guideline for using this technique? a. hold sterile objects above waist level to prevent inadvertent contamination b. consider the outside of the sterile package to be sterile c. consider the outer 3 in (8cm) edge of a sterile field to be contaminated d. open sterile packages so that the first edge of the wrapper is directed toward the nurse

a. hold sterile objects above waist level to prevent inadvertent contamination

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? a. removes gloves and walks out of the room b. asks the client to state name and date of birth c. applies a mask with face shield d. performs hand hygiene before donning gloves

a. removes gloves and walks out of the room

The nurse manager is developing a plan to decrease the transmission of health care associated infections. What would be the best to implement? a. staff education on utilizing hand hygiene b. restricting visitors to those older than 12 years of age c. providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer to all clients d. having any visitor with a cough or cold wear a mask TAKE ANOTHER QUIZ

a. staff education on utilizing hand hygiene

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? a. surgical asepsis b. increased T cells c. decreased antibiotics d. increased vitamin C

a. surgical asepsis

The nurse has admitted a client on airborne precautions onto the medical-surgical unit. When the client asks, "When will these airborne precautions be removed?" what is the appropriate nursing response? a. "Until you leave the hospital." b. "When your sputum culture is negative." c. "For 2 days as you get settled onto the unit." d. "Only until you begin to feel better."

b. "When your sputum culture is negative."

A client is being screened for a parasitic infection and the physician orders stool specimens. When explaining to the client about collecting the specimens, the nurse would inform the client that the specimens will be collected daily for: a. 2 days. b. 3 days. c. 4 days. d. 5 days.

b. 3 days.

Nurses working in bed management are assigning clients from the emergency room to semiprivate rooms. Clients with which two diagnoses are appropriate to room together, based on safety and infection control standards? a. Clostridium difficile and diabetic ketoacidosis b. Reactive airway disease and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) c. Tuberculosis and pneumonia d. Appendectomy and a draining leg ulcer positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

b. Reactive airway disease and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)

A nurse is applying the principles of Standard and Contact Precautions in the care of a hospital client. Which action violates these principles? a. The nurse performs hand hygiene after touching the client's surroundings. b. The nurse removes her gown and then removes her gloves. c. The nurse performs hand hygiene before putting on gloves. d. The nurse applies nonmedicated hand cream after performing hand hygiene.

b. The nurse removes her gown and then removes her gloves.

A client is experiencing generalized weakness and body aches. In the progress of infection, the client is in the: a. incubation period b. prodromal period c. acute period d. convalescent period

b. prodromal period

A family member with a mild upper respiratory infection comes to visit a client in a long-term care facility. The nurse takes the opportunity to teach the family member about preventing the spread of the cold. What response by the family member indicates that the nurse's teaching was successful? a. "I will not visit my family member in the first 3 days of my cold." b. "I will use tissue to cover my nose and mouth while I am visiting and will refrain from touching my family member." c. "I will obtain a mask from the staff and wash my hands before touching my family member." d. "If I sneeze or cough, I will make sure to cover my mouth with hand or tissue."

c. "I will obtain a mask from the staff and wash my hands before touching my family member."

Several family members are visiting a client with an antibiotic-resistant infection who has been placed on contact precautions. When the nurse teaches the visitors about wearing gloves and gowns, a family member states, "I don't want to wear those. I can't catch anything just by holding my loved one's hand." What is the best response to educate the family about infection transmission? a. "I understand; wearing these items is not pleasant but it really isn't optional." b. "If you don't come into contact with anything with your body, you may wear gloves only, as long as you wash your hands after removing the gloves." c. "These barriers help prevent the transmission of infection to you or other people." d. "Wearing the gloves and gown prevents sharing additional microorganisms with the client."

c. "These barriers help prevent the transmission of infection to you or other people."

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? a. Use an alcohol-based hand rub to decontaminate the hands. b. Remove all jewelry, including wedding bands, before hand washing. c. Keep hands lower than elbows to allow water to flow toward fingertips. d. Pat dry with a paper towel, beginning with the forearms and moving down to fingertips. TAKE ANOTHER QUIZ

c. Keep hands lower than elbows to allow water to flow toward fingertips.

The nurse uses a small amount of sterile solution from a large, multiuse bottle to moisten gauze in a sterile field. What technique does the nurse use? a. Pour the liquid onto gauze on the sterile field until the gauze is moist. b. Pour the liquid into the cap of the bottle and dip the gauze as needed. c. Pour the liquid into a sterile container within the sterile field. d. Pour the liquid into the palm of a sterile gloved hand for use.

c. Pour the liquid into a sterile container within the sterile field.

A group of nursing students is reviewing the various white blood cells and how they function in infection. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which cell as important in synthesizing immunoglobulins? a. Neutrophils b. Eosinophils c. T-lymphocytes d. Monocytes

c. T-lymphocytes

Infection occurs when the host is exposed to pathogens. What type of pathogen uses the cell's metabolism, and replicates itself while destroying the cell or changing the cell's genetic makeup? a. Bacteria b. Fungi c. Virus d. Parasites

c. Virus

What is NOT appropriate regarding the use of gowns as PPE? a. use of paper or cloth gowns b. donning a gown when splashing c. use of one gown per person per shift d. use of a new gown each time the nurse enters the room

c. use of one gown per person per shift

The patient has asked the nurse to explain her WBC level of 8,000 cells/mm3. The nurse would identify the level of WBCs as: a. decreased b. elevated c. within normal limits d. stable

c. within normal limits

A nurse is caring for four clients. Which client has the highest risk of infection? a. older male with an enlarged prostate b. toddler with a benign heart murmur c. woman in second trimester of pregnancy d. young woman with a history of scoliosis

c. woman in second trimester of pregnancy

The nurse is getting ready to change the client's wound dressing. Which step best supports infection control? a. sterile gauze b. sterile gloves c. clean environment d. handwashing

d. handwashing

A nurse is caring for a client who has neutropenia resulting from chemotherapy. Which precaution would be least appropriate to include when caring for this client? a. providing gentle oral care b. avoiding razors with blades c. encourage wearing a mask when out of the room d. obtaining rectal temperatures

d. obtaining rectal temperatures

For which client would the use of standard precautions alone 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

c. an incontinent client in a nursing home who has diarrhea

In which situation is an alcohol-based rub not the appropriate option for hand hygiene? a. When the nurse's hands are visibly soiled b. When the nurse anticipates contact with the client's skin c. When the nurse leaves the room of an immunocompromised client d. When the nurse is caring for a client with an active infection

a. When the nurse's hands are visibly soiled

The nurse is caring for a 27-year-old client who presents with possible signs of an infected abdominal wound. Which action should the nurse prioritize and initiate after receiving the results of the laboratory test indicating the client has methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection? a. airborne b. droplet c. contact d. reverse isolation

c. contact