Asepsis and Infection Control

Which of the following most accurately defines an infection?
A)
an illness resulting from living in an unclean environment
B)
the result of lack of knowledge about food preparation
C)
a disease resulting from pathogens in or on the body
D)
an acute or chronic illness resulting from traumatic injury

A patient who has had abdominal surgery develops an infection in the wound while still hospitalized. Which of the following agents is most likely the cause of the infection?
A)
virus
B)
bacteria
C)
fungi
D)
spores

A nurse caring for a patient who has gas gangrene knows that this infection originated in which of the following reservoirs?
A)
other people
B)
food
C)
soil
D)
animals

A patient with an upper respiratory infection (common cold) tells the nurse, “I am so angry with the nurse practitioner because he would not give me any antibiotics.” What would be the most accurate response by the nurse?
A)
“Antibiotics have no effect on viruses.”
B)
“Let me talk to him and see what we can do.”
C)
“Why do you think you need an antibiotic?”
D)
“I know what you mean; you need an antibiotic.”

A woman tests positive for the human immunodeficiency virus antibody but has no symptoms. She is considered a carrier. What component of the infection cycle does the woman illustrate?
A)
a reservoir
B)
an infectious agent
C)
a portal of exit
D)
a portal of entry

A man on an airplane is sitting by a woman who is coughing and sneezing. If she has an infection, what is the most likely means of transmission from the woman to the man?
A)
direct contact
B)
indirect contact
C)
vectors
D)
airborne route

A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is diagnosed with mononucleosis, commonly called “the kissing disease.” The nurse explains that the organisms causing this disease were transmitted by:
A)
direct contact.
B)
indirect contact.
C)
airborne route.
D)
vectors.

Of all possible nursing interventions to break the chain of infection, which is the most effective?
A)
administering medications
B)
providing good skin care
C)
practicing hand hygiene
D)
wearing gloves at all times

A nurse teaches a rural community group how to avoid contracting West Nile virus by using approved insect repellant and wearing proper coverings when outdoors. By what means is the pathogen involved in West Nile virus transmitted?
A)
direct contact
B)
indirect contact
C)
airborne route
D)
vectors

10.

Which of the following questions asked by the nurse when taking a patient’s health history would collect data about infection control?
A)
“Tell me what you eat in each 24-hour period.”
B)
“Do you sleep well and wake up feeling healthy?”
C)
“What were the causes of death for your family members?”
D)
“When did you complete your immunizations?”

11.

A college-aged student has influenza. At what stage of the infection is the student most infectious?
A)
incubation period
B)
prodromal stage
C)
full stage of illness
D)
convalescent period

12.

Which of the following are characteristics of the stage of infection known as full stage of illness? Select all that apply.
A)
It is the interval between the pathogen’s invasion of the body and the appearance of symptoms of infection .
B)
The presence of specific signs and symptoms indicates the full stage of illness.
C)
During the full stage of illness, the organisms are growing and multiplying.
D)
The signs and symptoms disappear, and the person returns to a healthy state.
E)
Early signs and symptoms of disease are present, but these are often vague and nonspecific.
F)
The type of infection determines the length of the illness and the severity of the manifestations.

13.

Which of the following statements accurately describe a component of the inflammatory response? Select all that apply.
A)
The inflammatory response is a protective mechanism that eliminates the invading pathogen and allows for tissue repair to occur.
B)
Inflammation helps the body to neutralize, control, or eliminate the offending agent and to prepare the site for repair.
C)
The inflammatory response involves specific body responses to an invading foreign protein, such as bacteria, or in some cases, to the body’s own proteins.
D)
The antigen–antibody reaction, also known as humoral immunity, is one component of the overall inflammatory response.
E)
The vascular and cellular stages are the main components of the inflammatory process and these physiological processes are responsible for the appearance of the cardinal signs.
F)
One of the first lines of defense against infection is the inflammatory response, which helps to keep potentially harmful bacteria from invading the body.

14.

Which of the following is an example of the body’s defense against infection?
A)
racial characteristics
B)
body shape and size
C)
immune response
D)
level of susceptibility

15.

A nurse has seen several patients at a community health center. Which of the patients would be most at risk for developing an infection?
A)
an older adult with several chronic illnesses
B)
an infant who has just received first immunizations
C)
an adolescent who had a basketball physical
D)
a middle-aged adult with joint pain and stiffness

16.

A patient comes to the emergency department with major burns over 40% of his body. Although all of the following are true, which one would provide the rationale for a nursing diagnosis of Risk for Infection?
A)
Stress may adversely affect normal defense mechanisms.
B)
White blood cells provide resistance to certain pathogens.
C)
Intact skin and mucous membranes protect against microbial invasion.
D)
Age, race, sex, and hereditary factors influence susceptibility to infection.

17.

A nurse is teaching adolescents how to prevent infections. What statement by one of the adolescents indicates that more teaching is needed?
A)
“I will wash my hands before and after going to the bathroom.”
B)
“I don’t wear a condom when I have sex, but I know my partners.”
C)
“I always eat fruits and vegetables, and I sleep 8 hours a night.”
D)
“When I have an infection, I rest and take my medications.”

18.

Mrs. Treem is on isolation because she acquired a methicillin-resistant S. aureus(MRSA) infection after hospitalization for hip replacement surgery. What name is given to this type of infection?
A)
nosocomial
B)
viral
C)
iatrogenic
D)
antimicrobial

19.

The following procedures have been ordered and implemented for a hospitalized patient. Which procedure carries the greatest risk for a nosocomial infection?
A)
enema
B)
intramuscular injections
C)
heat lamp
D)
urinary catheterization

20.

A nursing home recently has had a significant number of nosocomial infections. Which of the following measures might be instituted to decrease this trend?
A)
mandating antibiotics for all nursing home residents
B)
having written infection-prevention practices for all employees
C)
requiring all employees to have monthly screenings for skin flora
D)
restricting visitors and community activities for residents

21.

What are the recommended cleansing agents for hand hygiene in any setting when the risk of infection is high?
A)
liquid or bar hand soap
B)
cold water
C)
hot water
D)
antimicrobial products

22.

A nurse has completed morning care for a patient. There is no visible soiling on her hands. What type of technique is recommended by the CDC for hand hygiene?
A)
Do not wash hands, apply clean gloves.
B)
Wash hands with soap and water.
C)
Clean hands with an alcohol-based handrub.
D)
Wash hands with soap and water, follow with handrub.

23.

How long should a healthcare worker scrub hands that are not visibly soiled for effective hand hygiene?
A)
15 seconds
B)
30 seconds
C)
1 minute
D)
5 minutes

24.

Which of the following statements is true of healthcare personnel and good hand hygiene?
A)
Hand hygiene is carefully followed.
B)
Compliance is difficult to achieve.
C)
Only nurses need to practice hand hygiene.
D)
Wearing gloves reduces the need for hand hygiene.

25.

A home health nurse is completing a health history for a patient. What is one question that is important to ask to identify a latex allergy for this patient?
A)
“Have you ever had an allergic reaction to shellfish or iodine?”
B)
“Tell me what you use to wash your hands after toileting.”
C)
“When you were a child, did you have frequent infections?”
D)
“Have you had any unusual symptoms after blowing up balloons?”

26.

A nurse is caring for a patient with a serious bacterial infection. The patient is dehydrated. Knowledge of the physical effects of the infection would support which of the following nursing diagnoses?
A)
High Risk for Infection
B)
Excess Fluid Volume
C)
Risk for Imbalanced Body Temperature
D)
Risk for Latex Allergy Response

27.

What is the correct rationale for using body substance precautions?
A)
The risk of transmitting HIV in sputum and urine is nonexistent.
B)
Disease-specific isolation procedures are adequate protection.
C)
Only actively infected patients are considered contagious.
D)
All body substances are considered potentially infectious.

28.

The latest CDC guidelines designate standard precautions for all substances except which of the following?
A)
urine
B)
blood
C)
sweat
D)
vomitus

29.

A student nurse is performing a urinary catheterization for the first time and inadvertently contaminates the catheter by touching the bed linens. What should the nurse do to maintain surgical asepsis for this procedure?
A)
Nothing, because the patient is on antibiotics.
B)
Complete the procedure and then report what happened.
C)
Apologize to the patient and complete the procedure.
D)
Gather new sterile supplies and start over.

30.

A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. If new sterile items or supplies are needed, how can they be added to the sterile field?
A)
with sterile forceps or hands wearing sterile gloves
B)
by carefully handling them with clean hands
C)
with clean forceps that touch only the outermost part of the item
D)
by clean hands wearing clean latex gloves

31.

A nurse is positioning a sterile drape to extend the working area when performing a urinary catheterization. Which of the following is an appropriate technique for this procedure?
A)
Use sterile gloves to handle the entire drape surface.
B)
Fold the lower edges of the drape over the sterile-gloved hands.
C)
Touch only the outer 2 inches of the drape when not wearing sterile gloves.
D)
When reaching over the drape do not allow clothing to touch the drape.

Answer Key