Infection Control: Specimen collection technique Flashcards
1
Q
How to collect a wound specimen?
A
- Clean site with sterile water or saline
- Wear gloves and use cotton swab or syringe to collect drainage
- Set clean tube on paper towel nearby
- Swab healthiest tissue, grasp tube with paper towel
- Insert swab without touching outside of tube
- Secure tube top, transfer to bag for transport
- Perform hand hygiene
2
Q
How to collect a blood specimen?
A
- Wear gloves
- Use syringe and culture bottles, collect up to 10mL per bottle
- Perform venipuncture at two different sites
- Place bottles on surface, swab tops with alcohol
- Inject appropriate blood amount into each bottle
- Transfer to clean labeled bag for transport
- Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene
3
Q
How to collect a stool specimen?
A
- Wear gloves
- Use clean cup with lid and tongue blade
- Collect walnut-sized amount from bedpan
- Transfer to cup without touching outside
- Dispose of tongue blade, seal cup
- Transfer to clean bag for transport
- Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene
4
Q
How to collect a urine specimen?
A
- Wear gloves
- Use syringe and sterile cup/tube, collect 1-5mL
- Place cup/tube on clean towel in bathroom
- For catheterized patient, use syringe
- For non-catheterized, follow clean catch procedure
- Transfer urine to sterile container
- Secure lid, transfer to labeled bag
- Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene
5
Q
What are important steps for specimen collection?
A
- Use disposable gloves and sterile equipment
- Collect fresh material from infection site to avoid contamination
- Seal specimen containers tightly to prevent spillage and outside contamination
6
Q
What are guidelines for bagging contaminated waste or linen?
A
- Use a single sturdy, impervious bag if item can be placed without contaminating outside
- Place soiled linen in impervious laundry bag in patient’s room
- Double bagging only needed if impossible to prevent outside bag contamination
- One standard, securely tied bag is adequate if not overfilled
7
Q
What should be done before transporting a patient?
A
- Patient hand hygiene
- Clean gown/robe
- Airborne patients only leave for essentials
- Airborne patients wear masks
- Transport staff may need barriers
8
Q
What precautions are needed during patient transport?
A
- Cover stretcher/wheelchair if fluid expected
- Clean/disinfect equipment after if soiled
- Notify receiving area of isolation
- Record isolation type
- Provide mask/tissues for airborne/droplet
9
Q
What are the key roles of an infection control professional?
A
- Educate staff on infection prevention/control
- Develop/review infection control policies
- Recommend isolation procedures
- Screen for reportable community infections
- Consult on preventing staff infections (e.g. TB)
- Gather data on hospital-acquired infections
- Notify health dept of facility communicable diseases
- Investigate unusual infection events/clusters
- Recommend patient/family education
- Identify equipment infection control issues
- Monitor antibiotic resistance
- Monitor hospital construction dust containment
10
Q
What risks do healthcare workers face regarding infections?
A
- Continual exposure risk to microorganisms
- Protocols advise staff on infection control
- Regular staff education programs
- Rules prevent unnecessary pathogen exposure
11
Q
Why is patient education on infection control important?
A
- Patients unaware of infection spread/prevention
- Home environments may hinder prevention
- Nurses help adapt home for hygiene
- Lower risk than hospitals due to less exposure
12
Q
What is surgical asepsis?
A
Procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms, including spores, from an object or area. Any contact with non-sterile objects contaminates the sterile field.
13
Q
When should surgical asepsis be used?
A
- During procedures that perforate the patient’s skin (IV insertions, injections)
- When skin integrity is broken due to trauma, incisions, burns
- For insertion of catheters or instruments into sterile body cavities
14
Q
Where is surgical asepsis commonly practiced?
A
- Operating rooms
- Labor and delivery areas
- Major diagnostic areas
- Also at bedside for IV/urinary catheter insertions, dressing changes
15
Q
What steps maintain sterile technique in the operating room?
A
- Applying mask, protective eyewear, cap
- Performing surgical hand scrub
- Donning sterile gown and gloves
