Infection Control and Patient Safety: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Infection control & patient safety

Method

  1. Start with standard precautions for every patient: hand hygiene, PPE for the expected exposure, safe sharps.
  2. Add precautions by route: contact (gown, gloves), droplet (surgical mask), airborne (N95, negative-pressure room).
  3. Keep sterile items sterile: if in doubt, it is not sterile; replace, never wipe.
  4. Prevent harm in the environment: fall measures, restraints only as a last resort, RACE and PASS for fire.
  5. Check the rights of medication administration, two identifiers and extra safeguards for high-alert drugs; report errors and near misses.

2Practice problems

1.Infection control & patient safetyMedium

A patient has shingles (herpes zoster) on one area of the chest, has a normal immune system and the lesions can be fully covered. Which precautions are usually needed?

  1. AProtective environment with positive pressure
  2. BDroplet precautions only
  3. CAirborne precautions in a negative-pressure room
  4. DStandard precautions, with the lesions covered
2.Infection control & patient safetyHard

A woman in late pregnancy is choking and cannot speak or cough. Which technique should the rescuer use?

  1. AAbdominal thrusts
  2. BChest thrusts
  3. CBlind finger sweeps
  4. DBack blows only
3.Nursing fundamentalsMedium

Which behaviour shows active listening?

  1. AParaphrasing what the patient said to check understanding
  2. BLooking at the computer screen to take notes during the conversation
  3. CPlanning your reply while the patient is talking
  4. DChanging the subject when emotions come up
4.Nursing fundamentalsHard

A patient with a valid DNACPR (DNR) decision, whose death was expected, stops breathing. What should the nurse do?

  1. AStart CPR and call the cardiac arrest team
  2. BStart CPR but stop after five minutes
  3. CNot start CPR, note the time, inform the team and support the family
  4. DLeave the patient and ask the family to wait outside until the doctor comes
5.MicrobiologyMedium

In the lysogenic cycle of a bacteriophage, what happens to the phage DNA?

  1. AIt leaves the cell through the pilus
  2. BIt is integrated into the bacterial chromosome as a prophage
  3. CIt is destroyed by the bacterium
  4. DIt is immediately used to make new phages that burst the cell
6.MicrobiologyHard

Why are beta-lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanic acid combined with amoxicillin?

  1. AThey make amoxicillin active against viruses
  2. BThey slow the excretion of amoxicillin by the kidneys, raising its level
  3. CThey protect amoxicillin from bacterial enzymes that destroy it
  4. DThey kill bacteria by themselves through the cell membrane

3Solutions

1.Infection control & patient safety

Answer: D · Standard precautions, with the lesions covered

Why this is the answer

Localized zoster in an immunocompetent patient, with lesions that can be covered, is managed with standard precautions. Disseminated zoster needs airborne and contact precautions until all lesions are dry and crusted, and localized zoster in an immunocompromised patient needs them until dissemination is ruled out. Staff without immunity to varicella should not provide care.

Answer

D · Standard precautions, with the lesions covered
2.Infection control & patient safety

Answer: B · Chest thrusts

Why this is the answer

For people in late pregnancy or who are very obese, chest thrusts replace abdominal thrusts because the rescuer cannot get around the abdomen effectively. Blind finger sweeps can push the object deeper.

Answer

B · Chest thrusts
3.Nursing fundamentals

Answer: A · Paraphrasing what the patient said to check understanding

Why this is the answer

Active listening includes attention, appropriate eye contact, nodding, reflecting and paraphrasing. It helps patients feel heard and gives the nurse accurate information.

Answer

A · Paraphrasing what the patient said to check understanding
4.Nursing fundamentals

Answer: C · Not start CPR, note the time, inform the team and support the family

Why this is the answer

CPR is not attempted when a valid DNACPR decision applies. The nurse notes the time, follows local policy for verifying death, informs the medical team and supports the family.

Answer

C · Not start CPR, note the time, inform the team and support the family
5.Microbiology

Answer: B · It is integrated into the bacterial chromosome as a prophage

Why this is the answer

In lysogeny the phage genome integrates into the host chromosome and is copied with it. Later it may switch to the lytic cycle, making new phages and lysing the cell.

Answer

B · It is integrated into the bacterial chromosome as a prophage
6.Microbiology

Answer: C · They protect amoxicillin from bacterial enzymes that destroy it

Why this is the answer

Beta-lactamases hydrolyse the beta-lactam ring. Clavulanic acid binds these enzymes, so amoxicillin stays active against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria.

Answer

C · They protect amoxicillin from bacterial enzymes that destroy it

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