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 nurse wants to set up a sterile field in the morning for a procedure that will take place after lunch. What is correct?

  1. ASet it up in the morning and ask a colleague to check it once
  2. BSet it up just before the procedure, because a waiting field may become contaminated
  3. CSet it up in the morning and leave it uncovered in an empty room
  4. DSet it up in the morning and cover it with a clean towel until the procedure starts
2.Infection control & patient safetyHard

Several patients on a ward develop vomiting and diarrhea within two days, and a norovirus outbreak is suspected. What should the nurse do first?

  1. ANotify the infection prevention team and place affected patients on contact precautions
  2. BAsk visitors to bring in bottled water for all patients
  3. CWait for all the stool results to come back before taking any action
  4. DMove the affected patients to different wards so that fewer people are exposed
3.Nursing fundamentalsMedium

What is the main aim of "protected mealtimes" on hospital wards?

  1. ATo give staff a fixed break while the patients are eating their meals
  2. BTo let patients eat without interruptions, with help where needed
  3. CTo stop visitors from bringing any food into hospital
  4. DTo make sure all patients eat the same meal at once
4.Nursing fundamentalsHard

A urine culture reports a mixed growth of several organisms. What is the most likely explanation?

  1. AThe sample was contaminated during collection
  2. BThe laboratory used the wrong test
  3. CThe patient is resistant to all antibiotics
  4. DThe patient has several serious infections at once
5.MicrobiologyMedium

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

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

A young adult with sore throat, fever and swollen lymph nodes is given amoxicillin and develops a widespread rash. Which infection is most likely?

  1. AInfectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein–Barr virus
  2. BChickenpox
  3. CMeasles
  4. DStreptococcal tonsillitis

3Solutions

1.Infection control & patient safety

Answer: B · Set it up just before the procedure, because a waiting field may become contaminated

Why this is the answer

The longer a sterile field is exposed, the more likely it is to be contaminated, and an unattended field cannot be considered sterile. It is prepared just before use.

Answer

B · Set it up just before the procedure, because a waiting field may become contaminated
2.Infection control & patient safety

Answer: A · Notify the infection prevention team and place affected patients on contact precautions

Why this is the answer

Early reporting lets infection prevention organize testing, cohorting, closing of the ward if needed, cleaning with suitable agents and soap-and-water hand hygiene. Moving patients around can spread the outbreak.

Answer

A · Notify the infection prevention team and place affected patients on contact precautions
3.Nursing fundamentals

Answer: B · To let patients eat without interruptions, with help where needed

Why this is the answer

Ward rounds and tests can interrupt meals, and patients then eat less. Protected mealtimes pause non-urgent activity so staff can focus on helping patients eat.

Answer

B · To let patients eat without interruptions, with help where needed
4.Nursing fundamentals

Answer: A · The sample was contaminated during collection

Why this is the answer

A mixed growth usually means skin or perineal bacteria contaminated the sample. A clean-catch midstream sample, or a sample from the catheter sampling port, gives a more reliable result.

Answer

A · The sample was contaminated during collection
5.Microbiology

Answer: A · 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

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

Answer: A · Infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein–Barr virus

Why this is the answer

Glandular fever is caused by EBV. Many patients given amoxicillin during the illness develop a rash. Antibiotics do not help because the cause is viral.

Answer

A · Infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein–Barr virus

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