Chapter 95: Antiseptics and Disinfectants

Chapter 95: Antiseptics and Disinfectants

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

1. The prescriber writes an order to cleanse a patient’s open wound twice a day with iodine. The nurse would use which solution?

a.	Iodine tincture
b.	Iodine solution
c.	Povidone-iodine
d.	Glutaraldehyde (Cidex)

 

 

ANS:   B

Iodine solution is used for the treatment of open wounds and abrasions.

Iodine tincture is used when the skin is intact.

Povidone-iodine is less effective than other iodine preparations and is primarily used for prophylaxis of postoperative infection. It also is used for hand washing and surgical scrubs.

Glutaraldehyde is not an iodine.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 1142

TOP:    Nursing Process: Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

 

2. For which patient would a topical antiseptic be most appropriate?

a.	A patient with a systemic infection
b.	A patient with a medium-sized abscess
c.	A patient who has a wound with moderate exudate
d.	A patient with an established local infection, as prophylaxis

 

 

ANS:   D

Antiseptics are useful as prophylaxis for an established local infection.

A patient with a systemic infection is treated with a systemic anti-infective drug.

An abscess must be incised and drained, and a topical agent cannot significantly penetrate the skin to be effective.

A wound with moderate exudates requires antibiotic therapy.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analysis                  REF:    p. 1140

TOP:    Nursing Process: Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

 

3. The nurse is providing education to a group of surgical nurses and surgical scrub technicians. To evaluate the participants’ knowledge of antiseptics and disinfectants, the nurse asks them to choose which of the following antiseptics, disinfectants, or processes are correctly matched with their purpose or action. (Select all that apply.)

a.	Disinfectants; decontamination of surgical instruments
b.	Disinfectants; only used topically to cleanse wounds
c.	Sterilization; kills all microorganisms
d.	Sanitization; sanitizes surgical equipment
e.	Germicide; reduces the growth and replication of microorganisms

 

 

ANS:   A, C

A disinfectant is used to decontaminate surgical instruments. Sterilization is used to kill all microorganisms.

Disinfectants are too harsh to be applied to living tissue.

Sanitization implies only that contamination has been reduced to a level compatible with public health standards; it may not be used to sanitize surgical equipment.

Germicides kill microorganisms; they do not reduce their growth.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    p. 1140

TOP:    Nursing Process: Planning

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential

 

4. The nurse, who is serving as a preceptor to a graduate nurse, is orienting the graduate nurse to the operating room. The nurse asks the graduate nurse which disinfectant would be used to cleanse the respiratory and anesthetic equipment and why. Which of the following would be the correct answer from the graduate nurse?

a.	Ethanol; because it is an effective virucide and kills pathogenic bacteria
b.	Glutaraldehyde; because it is lethal to all microorganisms
c.	Hexachlorophene; because it is bacteriostatic
d.	Chlorine compound; because it can be mixed with water for sanitization

 

 

ANS:   B

Glutaraldehyde is lethal to all microorganisms and is used to disinfect and sterilize surgical instruments and other medical supplies, including respiratory and anesthetic equipment, catheters, and thermometers.

Ethanol is an effective virucide and kills most common pathogenic bacteria, but it does not kill all microorganisms (a requirement for a sterile environment).

Hexachlorophene is bacteriostatic, not bactericidal, and should not be used in the clinical setting.

Chlorine compound is used to sanitize water supplies and swimming pools; it is not indicated in a clinical setting.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application             REF:    pp. 1141-1142

TOP:    Nursing Process: Evaluation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies