CHSP Infection Prevention and Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Spaulding Classification system used for in infection prevention?
- Classifying healthcare-associated infections
- Categorizing medical devices based on infection risk to determine disinfection or sterilization level required (Correct answer)
- Ranking hospitals by infection rates
- Classifying antibiotic resistance patterns
Correct answer: Categorizing medical devices based on infection risk to determine disinfection or sterilization level required
The Spaulding Classification categorizes devices as critical, semi-critical, or non-critical based on infection risk from their use.
Critical items contact sterile tissue (require sterilization), semi-critical contact mucous membranes (require high-level disinfection), non-critical contact intact skin (require low-level disinfection).
Question 2: What are the five moments for hand hygiene as defined by the WHO?
- Before eating, after eating, before sleeping, after sleeping, after restroom
- Before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, after touching patient surroundings (Correct answer)
- Before shift, at lunch, mid-afternoon, before leaving, after emergencies
- Before gloving, after gloving, before masking, after masking, at shift end
Correct answer: Before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure, after patient contact, after touching patient surroundings
WHO five moments: before touching patient, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching patient, after touching patient surroundings.
Each moment targets a specific transmission risk. Hand hygiene can be alcohol-based hand rub (preferred when hands not visibly soiled) or soap and water.
Question 3: What type of precautions should be implemented for a patient diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Standard precautions only
- Contact precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Droplet precautions
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Pulmonary TB requires airborne precautions because M. tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne nuclei that remain suspended in the air.
Airborne precautions require an Airborne Infection Isolation Room with negative pressure, at least 12 air changes per hour, and N95 respirators for healthcare workers.
Question 4: What is the minimum bleach concentration recommended by CDC for disinfecting surfaces contaminated with C. difficile?
- 1:100 dilution (500 ppm)
- 1:10 dilution (5,000 ppm) or EPA-registered sporicidal product (Correct answer)
- Undiluted bleach
- Bleach is not effective against C. difficile
Correct answer: 1:10 dilution (5,000 ppm) or EPA-registered sporicidal product
CDC recommends 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite (5,000 ppm) or EPA-registered sporicidal product for C. difficile spores.
C. difficile spores resist most standard disinfectants including quaternary ammonium and alcohol. Hand washing with soap and water is required as alcohol rub does not kill spores.
Question 5: What is an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) matrix used for in healthcare construction?
- To determine operating room needs
- To evaluate infection risk from construction and determine appropriate precautions based on patient population and project type (Correct answer)
- To calculate construction costs
- To schedule infection control staff coverage
Correct answer: To evaluate infection risk from construction and determine appropriate precautions based on patient population and project type
The ICRA matrix cross-references construction activity type with patient risk group to determine the appropriate class of precautions.
Construction activities and patient risk groups are cross-referenced to determine Class I through Class IV precautions, with Class IV being the most stringent.
Question 6: What is the proper order for donning PPE when entering a patient room under contact and droplet precautions?
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
- Eye protection, gloves, mask, gown
Correct answer: Gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves
The correct donning sequence is gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, and gloves last to cover the gown cuffs.
Putting gloves on last ensures they cover the gown cuffs, creating a continuous barrier. Doffing is essentially the reverse, with gloves and gown removed first.
CHSP Infection Prevention and Control 2
What is the Spaulding Classification system used for in infection prevention?