Infection Control Quiz

Airborne precautions are necessary to prevent the transmission of infectious agents that can remain infectious over long distances when suspended in the air. These agents can be transmitted through small respiratory droplets or dust particles and can travel beyond the immediate vicinity of an infected individual. By implementing airborne precautions, such as wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, and gowns, healthcare workers can minimize the risk of inhaling or coming into contact with these infectious agents and prevent their spread to others. Therefore, the given statement is true.

When dealing with patients who have pertussis and rubella, it is important to follow Droplet Precautions. This is because both pertussis and rubella are highly contagious diseases that can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. By following Droplet Precautions, healthcare professionals can minimize the risk of transmission to themselves and other patients. This may include wearing a mask, using gloves, and practicing proper hand hygiene. Therefore, the correct answer is True.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection, plays a crucial role in infection control by creating a barrier between healthcare workers and potentially infectious materials. Proper use of PPE is essential to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections and protect both patients and healthcare personnel. It is necessary for healthcare workers to use appropriate PPE based on the type of patient care activities and the potential for exposure to infectious agents.

Hand hygiene is a critical component of infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before and after patient contact, after removing gloves, and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces. Proper hand hygiene involves using alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, ensuring thorough coverage of all surfaces of the hands.

Transmission-based precautions are additional infection control measures implemented to prevent the transmission of specific pathogens in healthcare settings. Droplet precautions are required for patients with infections transmitted by large respiratory droplets, such as influenza and pertussis. These precautions involve wearing a surgical mask and maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from the patient. Contact precautions are necessary for patients with known or suspected infections that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Airborne precautions are indicated for patients with infections transmitted by small droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air, such as tuberculosis (TB) and measles. These precautions require the use of special respiratory protection, such as N95 respirators, and isolation in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR).

Dried HBV has been shown to survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for up to 1 week. This means that even after the liquid form of the virus has dried, it can still remain viable on surfaces for a significant amount of time. This highlights the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection protocols to prevent the spread of HBV.

Environmental cleaning and disinfection play a crucial role in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare settings. Proper cleaning and disinfection of patient care areas, equipment, and frequently touched surfaces help reduce the presence of infectious agents, such as bacteria and viruses, and minimize the risk of transmission to patients and healthcare workers. Effective environmental cleaning protocols should be implemented and followed consistently to maintain a safe and hygienic healthcare environment.

Surgical hand antisepsis is a critical step in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) and ensuring patient safety during surgical procedures. Healthcare personnel performing surgical hand antisepsis should follow specific protocols recommended by professional guidelines and regulatory agencies. The recommended duration for surgical hand antisepsis using an antimicrobial soap or alcohol-based hand rub is typically 2 to 6 minutes, with thorough scrubbing of all surfaces of the hands, fingers, and forearms for at least 30 seconds. This extended duration ensures effective removal of transient and resident microorganisms from the hands, reducing the risk of contamination during surgical procedures.

VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus) is not transmitted through casual contact such as touching or hugging. It is primarily transmitted through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or through healthcare workers who have not properly washed their hands. Airborne transmission through coughing or sneezing is also not a common mode of transmission for VRE. Therefore, the statement is false.

The statement is false. According to studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-based decontamination has been shown to be more effective in reducing multi-drug-resistant pathogens compared to washing with soap and water alone. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are recommended by the CDC as an effective method for hand hygiene, particularly in healthcare settings where there is a high risk of transmission of pathogens. These sanitizers are convenient, easy to use, and have been shown to effectively reduce the spread of infections when used properly.