Control of Infection

1. The smallest infectious agents capable of causing an infection are: a. bacteria b. viruses c. molds d. yeasts Answer: The correct answer is B. A virus is the smallest of all microorganisms and can only be seen with a special microscope. 2. Your patient has developed a low-grade fever and states that she felt very tired lately. This phase of an infection is known as the: a. incubation period b. prodromal stage c. full stage of illness d. convalescence period Answer: The correct answer is B. During the prodromal stage, the person has vague signs and symptoms, such as fatigue and a low-grade fever 3. The highest mortality rate is associated with nosocomial infections that involve the: a. respiratory tract b. integumentary system c. urinary tract d. intestines Answer: The correct answer is A. Urinary tract infections and surgical wounds are common sites for nosocomial infections to develop, but the highest mortality rate is associated with those infections that involve the respiratory tract. 4. A patient develops a urinary tract infection after an indwelling urinary catheter has been inserted. This would most accurately be termed: a. a viral infection b. a chronic infection c. an iatrogenic infection d. an opportunistic infection Answer: The correct answer is C. An infection that develops as a result of the incision of an indwelling catheter is termed iatrogenic 5. The nurse has opened the sterile supplies and donned two sterile gloves to complete dressing change. Maintaining surgical asepsis requires the nurse to: a. keep splashes on the sterile field to a minimum b. cover the nose and mouth with gloved hands if a sneeze is imminent c. use the dominant hand to cleanse the incision with a moist saline sponge and then apply the dry dressing d. consider out the outer 1 inch of the sterile field as contaminated

Answer: The correct answer is D. Considering the outer inch of a sterile field as contaminated is a principle of surgical asepsis 6. The CDC standard precaution recommendations apply to: a. only patients with diagnosed infection b. only blood and body fluids with visible blood c. all body fluids including sweat d. all patients receiving care in hospitals Answer: The correct answer is D. Standard precautions apply to all patients receiving care in hospitals regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status 7. In addition to standard precautions, the nurse caring for a patient with rubella would plan to implement: a. droplet precautions b. airborne precautions c. contact precautions d. universal precautions Answer: The correct answer is A. Rubella is an illness transmitted by large-particle droplets and requires droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions 8. When caring for a patient latex allergy, the nurse creates a latex-safe environment by: a. carefully clean the wall-mounted blood pressure device before using it b. donning latex glove outside the room to limit powder dispersal c. using a latex-free pharmacy protocol d. placing the patient in a semi-private room Answer: the correct answer is C. A latex-free primacy protocol is a vital component when creating a safe environment for this patient. 9. The guidelines for minimum protection standards for infection prevention and control where initially developed by: a. OSHA b. An individual health care facilities c. The state governing body d. The CDC Answer the correct answer is D. The CDC established the initial minimum requirements for infection prevention and control. 10. The recommended sequence for moving soiled personal protective equipment when the nurse prepares to leave the patients room is to remove: a. Gown, goggles, mask, gloves, and exit the room b. Gloves, wash hands, remove gown, mask, and goggles c. Gloves, mask, gown, goggles and wash hands d. Goggles, mask, gloves, gown, and wash hands.

Answer: The correct answer is C. Gloves are always removed first because they are most likely to be contaminated, and hands should be washed thoroughly after the equipment has been removed and before leaving the room