Infection Control & Sterile Technique Flashcards
6 cards from real CMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infection Control & Sterile Technique flashcards as text
A maternal fever during labor is defined as a temperature at or above:
Answer: 38.0°C (100.4°F)
Intrapartum fever is defined as a single temperature ≥38.0°C (100.4°F), which warrants assessment for infection including chorioamnionitis.
Which practice significantly reduces the risk of neonatal eye infection (ophthalmia neonatorum) caused by gonorrhea?
Answer: Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment applied to the newborn's eyes
Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment is applied within 1–2 hours of birth to all newborns as prophylaxis against gonorrheal and chlamydial conjunctivitis.
The most common cause of postpartum endometritis is:
Answer: Polymicrobial ascending infection from the vagina
Postpartum endometritis is usually polymicrobial, caused by ascending vaginal flora including anaerobes, GBS, gram-negative rods, and enterococci.
Which action contaminates a sterile gloved hand?
Answer: Touching the patient's unprepped skin
Touching unprepped, non-sterile surfaces such as the patient's skin outside the prepped area immediately contaminates the sterile glove.
Rupture of membranes (ROM) lasting more than how many hours significantly increases infection risk?
Answer: 24 hours
Prolonged ROM exceeding 18–24 hours significantly increases the risk of chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis due to ascending bacterial colonization.
Proper disposal of sharps (needles, scalpels) used during a delivery should occur:
Answer: Immediately after use into a puncture-resistant sharps container
OSHA requires immediate disposal of used sharps into a puncture-resistant sharps container to prevent needlestick injuries.