Chapter 17: Infection Prevention and Control in the Hospital and Home

Chapter 17: Infection Prevention and Control in the Hospital and Home

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. When the patient complains of vague symptoms of malaise and fatigue and has a low-grade fever, but has no other specific signs of illness, the nurse suspects that this patient is in the prodromal phase of infection (the time immediately before the illness is diagnosed). The nurse should include in the plan of care to:

a.	increase assessment for specific signs of illness.
b.	increase fluid intake.
c.	place the patient in isolation.
d.	report findings to the Infection Preventionist Officer.

 

 

ANS:   A

The nurse should increase observation and assessments for specific signs of illness during the prodromal phase of infection.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 243              OBJ:    Theory #1

TOP:    Stages of Infection                             KEY:   Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort

 

2. The nurse is aware that the patient most at risk for a health care–associated infection (HAI) would be the:

a.	45-year-old in traction for a fractured femur.
b.	56-year-old with pneumonia who is receiving oxygen by mask.
c.	65-year-old with a Foley catheter.
d.	70-year-old with congestive heart failure attached to a monitor.

 

 

ANS:   C

Patients with incisions, IV lines, urinary catheters, and other invasive procedures are more likely to develop a health care–associated infection (HAI).

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis                  REF:    p. 243              OBJ:    Theory #2

TOP:    Health Care–Associated Infections   KEY:   Nursing Process Step: Assessment

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control

 

3. The most effective part of infection control to reduce the incidence of health care–associated infections (HAIs) is to:

a.	use surgical asepsis for care of patients outside the operating room who are most at risk for an HAI.
b.	put all patients with wounds or invasive procedures on Transmission-Based Precautions before they become infected.
c.	place an alcohol-based hand sanitizer solution in every patient room.
d.	use proper hand hygiene before and after caring for any patient, before donning gloves and after their removal.

 

 

ANS:   D

Proper hand hygiene is the single most important aspect of medical asepsis and infection control.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 244              OBJ:    Theory #2

TOP:    Infection Control                                KEY:   Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control

 

4. The nurse cautions that a person in the incubation period of an infection:

a.	has identifiable signs of a specific illness.
b.	can transmit the disease although he or she does not feel ill.
c.	will seek medical attention for the relief of symptoms.
d.	will always exhibit symptoms within 48 hours.

 

 

ANS:   B

During the incubation period, patients can transmit the disease, although they do not have identifiable symptoms. The incubation period varies depending on the microorganisms.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension      REF:    p. 243              OBJ:    Theory #1

TOP:    Infection Control                                KEY:   Nursing Process Step: Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

 

5. The nurse clarifies that the difference between the use of earlier types of isolation procedures and the use of current Standard Procedures plus Transmission-Based Precautions as outlined by the CDC:

a.	is that new diseases have continued to appear for which the older isolation techniques were ineffective.
b.	is based on the premise in the new procedures that all body substances except sweat may be infectious, even when the person is not known to have a specific disease.
c.	is complicated and hard to follow.
d.	is based on newer knowledge of how HIV is spread, to better protect health care workers from blood-borne pathogens.

 

 

ANS:   B

Earlier Universal Precautions and Isolation Precautions focused on preventing the spread of blood-borne pathogens and secretions or excretions of a person specifically known to be infected. They have been replaced with Standard Precautions for all patients, and Transmission-Based Precautions for those specifically infected, because of the understanding that infection may be present in body secretions or excretions even when the person is apparently healthy.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension      REF:    p. 245|Box 17-1

OBJ:    Theory #3       TOP:    History of Infection Control

KEY:   Nursing Process Step: Planning

MSC:   NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control