Question 1

What bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism?
A) Staphylococcus
B) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Streptococcus

Accepted Answer

Streptococcus is responsible for more diseases than any other organism, including strep throat, scarlet fever, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). While the other options listed can also cause a variety of illnesses, they do not have as broad of a range as Streptococcus.

Question 2

What action exemplifies a nurse practicing medical asepsis in performing daily care?
A) Lifting a sterile swab from a sterile field
B) Using disposable sterile gowns
C) Washing hands for 5 minutes between patients
D) Keeping bed linens off the floor

Accepted Answer

Keeping bed linens off the floor is an action that exemplifies medical asepsis, as it helps prevent contamination of the linens and ultimately the patient. Lifting a sterile swab from a sterile field and using disposable sterile gowns are examples of surgical asepsis. Washing hands for 5 minutes between patients is unnecessary and not practical, as the current CDC guidelines recommend handwashing for at least 20 seconds.

Question 3

What bacteria can lie dormant when conditions for growth are not favorable?
A) Residue
B) Capsules
C) Spores
D) Flagella

Accepted Answer

Spores are specialized structures formed by certain bacteria that allow them to survive unfavorable conditions such as lack of nutrients or extreme temperatures. Spores can remain dormant for long periods of time and also have the ability to resist harsh environments and disinfectants.

Question 4

What technique should the nurse use when disposing of linens contaminated with feces?
A) Don gown,gloves,and mask
B) Wash hands for 5 minutes after disposal
C) Don gloves only
D) Double-bag the sheets

Accepted Answer

All health care workers should follow Standard Precautions to prevent infection from pathogens.Standard Precautions for the disposal of ordinary feces require only that the nurse don gloves.

Question 5

A major threat to health care workers is blood-contaminated sharps.What should the nurse use to discard the used syringe?
A) Wastebasket
B) Sink
C) Puncture-proof container
D) Disinfecting soap

Accepted Answer

A puncture-proof container is the best choice for discarding used syringes because it prevents the risk of needle sticks and blood-borne infection transmission. Wastebaskets and sinks are not appropriate because they do not prevent needle sticks, and disinfecting soap does not provide safe needle disposal.

Question 6

The nurse is concerned when a patient admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia suddenly develops a urinary tract infection (UTI).What type of infection is this UTI considered?
A) Viral infection
B) Bacterial infection
C) Health care-associated infection
D) Spore infection

Accepted Answer

The UTI developed during the patient's stay in the healthcare setting, making it a health care-associated infection (HAI), which refers to infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for other conditions within a healthcare setting.

Question 7

A patient with a respiratory infection reports that he is not yet on an antibiotic.The nurse explains that the health care provider is waiting on the results of the culture and sensitivity.What does this test determine?
A) What media the bacteria requires to grow
B) How fast the bacteria grow
C) Which antibiotics stop bacterial growth
D) When the bacteria colonize

Accepted Answer

The culture and sensitivity test determines which antibiotics are effective in stopping the growth of the bacteria causing the infection. This allows the healthcare provider to prescribe an appropriate antibiotic for the patient, rather than one which may be ineffective or cause resistance.

Question 8

What is true regarding surgical asepsis?
A) It inhibits growth of pathogenic organisms.
B) It is known as a cleaning technique.
C) It includes hand hygiene.
D) It is known as a sterile technique.

Accepted Answer

Surgical asepsis is also known as a sterile technique, which involves the use of practices and procedures to eliminate the presence of all microorganisms, including pathogenic and non-pathogenic, from an object or area. It differs from cleaning techniques, which aim to remove visible dirt and debris but may not fully eliminate microorganisms. Hand hygiene is a critical component of surgical asepsis, but it alone does not constitute this technique. Inhibiting growth of pathogenic organisms may be a result of surgical asepsis, but it is not a defining characteristic.

Question 9

The nurse is instructing a patient about the most important preventive technique for breaking the chain of infection.What technique is the patient learning about?
A) Sterilization
B) Standard Precautions
C) Hand hygiene
D) Medical asepsis

Accepted Answer

Hand hygiene is the most important preventive technique for breaking the chain of infection as it helps to remove microorganisms and prevent transmission of infection. Sterilization, standard precautions, and medical asepsis are also important techniques in infection control, but they are not considered the most important.

Question 10

The infection control health care provider plans an in-service on control of health care-associated infections.What should be the focus of this program?
A) Observing nurses caring for patients
B) Screening patients who are admitted to the hospital
C) Educating hospital personnel about aseptic practices
D) Discharging infectious patients from the hospital

Accepted Answer

The focus of the in-service should be educating hospital personnel about aseptic practices. This is because aseptic practices are the most important aspect of controlling health care-associated infections. Screening patients, observing nurses, and discharging infectious patients from the hospital are all important components of infection control, but they are not the primary focus of an in-service on infection control.

Question 11

What should the nurse be diligent in to provide a safe environment for the patient?
A) Keeping a light on at night to prevent falls
B) Hand hygiene between patient contacts
C) Regulating the temperature to avoid drafts
D) Changing the bed linen to diminish microorganisms

Accepted Answer

Hand hygiene is important in limiting the spread of infection and providing a safe environment for the patient. While the other options (keeping a light on at night, regulating temperature, and changing bed linen) may also contribute to patient safety, they are not as crucial as ensuring proper hand hygiene.

Question 12

The nurse prioritizes the care of four patients.Which patient has a systemic infection?
A) 14-year-old with acute appendicitis
B) 80-year-old with a urinary tract infection
C) 40-year-old with AIDS
D) 50-year-old with arthritis

Accepted Answer

A systemic infection involves the entire body, often through the bloodstream. Patients with AIDS are at high risk for systemic infections due to their compromised immune system, and they may experience infections such as pneumonia or sepsis. The other patients listed have localized infections that have not yet affected their entire body.

Question 13

The nurse is transporting a patient in respiratory isolation to the radiology department.What intervention should the nurse implement?
A) Cover the patient with a sheet.
B) Take the patient down the service elevator.
C) Apply a mask to the patient.
D) Call x-ray to come and get the patient.

Accepted Answer

The nurse should apply a mask to the patient to prevent any potential spread of infectious agents during transport. The other options are not necessary or appropriate for respiratory isolation precautions.

Question 14

What assessment does the nurse recognize as an inflammatory response in a surgical wound on the leg of a patient?
A) A foul drainage is coming from the wound.
B) The affected leg is cooler than the other leg.
C) There are raised,red,pruritic welts on the leg.
D) Rubor and edema appear around the wound.

Accepted Answer

Rubor (redness) and edema (swelling) are classic signs of inflammation. Foul drainage (A) may suggest infection rather than pure inflammation. A cooler affected leg (B) may suggest circulation issues or neurologic damage rather than inflammation. Raised, red, pruritic welts (C) may suggest an allergic reaction rather than inflammation.

Question 15

A health care worker is stuck by a needle left on the patient's bedside table.The staff member appropriately reports the needlestick.What will the indicated treatment be combatting?
A) Hepatitis B
B) Streptococcal infections
C) Staphylococcal infections
D) Influenza

Accepted Answer

The indicated treatment for a healthcare worker who is stuck by a needle is primarily to combat the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Streptococcal, Staphylococcal infections, and influenza are not transmitted through needlestick injuries.

Question 16

What additional complication does a disease caused by a virus have compared to a disease caused by bacteria?
A) Multiplies rapidly.
B) Returns frequently.
C) Is not killed by antibiotics.
D) Is unable to be cultured.

Accepted Answer

Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot be killed by antibiotics as they target only bacterial cells. This makes treating viral diseases more complicated as other means such as antiviral medications or vaccines need to be used instead.

Question 17

The patient in isolation may experience psychological or emotional deprivation.What should the nurse do to help minimize these feelings?
A) Be cheerful.
B) Spend extra time with the patient.
C) Protect the patient from additional infection.
D) Answer the call light quickly.

Accepted Answer

Spending extra time with the patient can help minimize feelings of psychological or emotional deprivation by providing the patient with human interaction and support. Being cheerful and answering the call light quickly are important aspects of patient care but may not necessarily address feelings of isolation. Protecting the patient from infection is also important but does not directly address psychological or emotional needs.

Question 18

What does the nurse describe when giving an example of a fomite vehicle?
A) Rabid dog
B) Person with AIDS
C) Contaminated stethoscope
D) Infected wound

Accepted Answer

A fomite vehicle refers to an inanimate object that can transmit disease, and a contaminated stethoscope would be an example of this. Option A (rabid dog) describes a direct source of transmission through a bite, option B (person with AIDS) describes a person as a source of transmission but not an inanimate object, and option D (infected wound) refers to a mode of transmission (direct contact) rather than a fomite vehicle.

Question 19

The infection control officer is observing hospital staff for appropriate use of aseptic technique.What observation demonstrates the need for more instruction on surgical asepsis?
A) Facing the sterile field
B) Placing a sterile dressing on a sterile field
C) Touching the edges of the sterile field with sterile gloves
D) Keeping gloved hands above the waist

Accepted Answer

Touching the edges of the sterile field with sterile gloves breaks the sterile field and can lead to contamination. The other options are all examples of appropriate use of aseptic technique.

Question 20

A nurse is observing isolation precautions by wearing a mask while performing complex patient care.How often should the nurse change masks?
A) 5 to 10 minutes
B) 10 to 20 minutes
C) 20 to 30 minutes
D) 30 to 40 minutes

Accepted Answer

Masks should be changed every 20 to 30 minutes during complex patient care to ensure they remain effective in preventing the transmission of infectious agents. Masks can become moist and less effective over time, necessitating regular replacement.

Quiz 7: Asepsis and Infection Control

What bacterium is responsible for more diseases than any other organism?

What action exemplifies a nurse practicing medical asepsis in performing daily care?

What bacteria can lie dormant when conditions for growth are not favorable?

What technique should the nurse use when disposing of linens contaminated with feces?

A major threat to health care workers is blood-contaminated sharps.What should the nurse use to discard the used syringe?

The nurse is concerned when a patient admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia suddenly develops a urinary tract infection (UTI) .What type of infection is this UTI considered?

A patient with a respiratory infection reports that he is not yet on an antibiotic.The nurse explains that the health care provider is waiting on the results of the culture and sensitivity.What does this test determine?

What is true regarding surgical asepsis?

The nurse is instructing a patient about the most important preventive technique for breaking the chain of infection.What technique is the patient learning about?

The infection control health care provider plans an in-service on control of health care-associated infections.What should be the focus of this program?

What should the nurse be diligent in to provide a safe environment for the patient?

The nurse prioritizes the care of four patients.Which patient has a systemic infection?

The nurse is transporting a patient in respiratory isolation to the radiology department.What intervention should the nurse implement?

What assessment does the nurse recognize as an inflammatory response in a surgical wound on the leg of a patient?

A health care worker is stuck by a needle left on the patient's bedside table.The staff member appropriately reports the needlestick.What will the indicated treatment be combatting?

What additional complication does a disease caused by a virus have compared to a disease caused by bacteria?

The patient in isolation may experience psychological or emotional deprivation.What should the nurse do to help minimize these feelings?

What does the nurse describe when giving an example of a fomite vehicle?

The infection control officer is observing hospital staff for appropriate use of aseptic technique.What observation demonstrates the need for more instruction on surgical asepsis?

A nurse is observing isolation precautions by wearing a mask while performing complex patient care.How often should the nurse change masks?