Infection Control Flashcards
A client who has extremely dry, flaky skin asks why the nursing staff continually applies lotion. How should the nurse respond?
The skin is the largest organ of the body and is the body’s primary physical defense. Keeping the skin moisturized helps to keep skin intact, which reduces the risk of infection ascites (CDC, 2002).The skin performs three major functions: (1) reducing loss of water; (2) protecting against abrasion and micro-organisms; and (3) providing a permeable barrier against the environment.
A home health nurse is caring for a client who had a left knee replacement surgery 5 days ago. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?
The client’s left knee is warm to touch and erythematous.
______ has an expected range of 55%-70%, are the first responders to injury and eat bacteria (phagocytosis)
Neutrophils
________ have an expected range of 20%-40%, fight chronic bacterial infections, and fight acute viruses
Lymphocytes
_______ have an expected range of 2-8%, are phagocytes that clean up tissue damage from injury or infection, produce interferon, and enhance the immune response?
Monocytes
___________ have an expected range of 0.5-1%, release histamine, serotonin, and heparin and can perform phagocytosis, and are also called mast cells?
Basophils
_________ have an expected range of 1-4%, are active in allergic reactions and parasitic infections, can perform phagocytosis and fight inflammation and infections
Eosinophils
A nurse is caring for a client whose family member asks why nurses cannot wear gel nail polish or have long fingernails. How should the nurse respond to the family member?
Keeping the fingernails short helps to protect clients by preventing the growth of bacteria under the fingernails. Nail polish, if worn, must not be chipped, because this also promotes bacteria growth. Gel nail polish is especially difficult to clean around, even with proper handwashing practices. Even with good hand hygiene, bacteria are not reduced effectively when health care workers wear gel nail polish.
What term describes the use of clean technique used in health care?
Medical asepsis.
A nurse is caring for a client with a large draining foot wound. Which of the following PPE equipment should the nurse don prior to entering the client’s room?
Non-sterile gloves and gown
A client with a large draining wound would be placed in contact precautions. To prevent transmission of the pathogens contained in the drainage to other clients or the nurse, non-sterile gloves and a gown should be worn by all personnel and visitors entering the room of a client in contact isolation.
What is the difference between sterile and non-sterile PPE?
Non-sterile means clean gloves for medical use worn to protect the wearer from sources of contamination. Sterile means gloves that are free of all viable microorganisms.
A nurse needs to assign rooms for two new clients needing contact isolation, but only one semi-private room is currently available. One client is being admitted due to diarrhea from Clostridium difficile. The other client has a large draining abdominal wound, but the pathogen has not yet been identified from the culture. Can these two clients be placed in the same room (cohorting)? Why or why not?
No. These two clients both require contact isolation, but for different reasons (pathogens). It is preferable that clients requiring isolation be assigned a private room. However, if that is not possible, the clients could be placed in the same room (cohorting), but only if they have the same pathogen. In addition, cohorting clients is a last resort (no available rooms), and the infection control nurse in the facility should be consulted also to assist in the final decision.
WTF is this? And what does it do?
A negative pressure room - otherwise known as a Airborne Infection isolation room.
PPE Practice Administering medications to a client who is on contact precautions. (Select all that apply.)
A and C.
The nurse who is planning only to administer medications to a client who is on contact precautions should don a gown and gloves due to potential exposure of infectious materials. They do not need to apply a face mask, N-95 respirator, goggles, or face shield to prevent contamination through contact with the client or equipment. Masks are to be worn for protection against potential exposure to infectious agents when the client is on droplet precautions. N-95 respirators are to be worn for protection against potential exposure to infectious agents when the client is on airborne precautions. Goggles and face shields are worn to prevent against potential exposure to infectious agents when splashing is expected to the eyes or face.
PPE Practice:
Performing a wound irrigation where splashing is expected in the facial area. (Select all that apply.)
A, C, and F.
PPE Practice:
Transporting a client who is on droplet precautions to the x-ray department.
D.
The nurse should don a mask to prevent being exposed to the infectious agent, when transporting a client who is on droplet precautions outside of the client’s room. The nurse should also ensure the client is also wearing a mask. They do not need to apply an N-95 respirator, goggles, gown, gloves, or a face shield. The nurse should don a face mask for clients who are on droplet precautions. N-95 respirators are to be worn for protection against potential exposure to infectious agents when the client is on airborne precautions. Goggles and face shields are worn to prevent against potential exposure to infectious agents when splashing is expected to the eyes or face. Gloves are to be worn anytime the nurse has potential for direct contact with blood or bodily fluids, nonintact skin, mucous membranes, materials that are potentially infectious, or when clients are placed on contact precautions.
