Practice Test Geeks(VABC) Vascular Access Board Certification Practice Test
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Infection Prevention Flashcards

7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Infection Prevention flashcards as text

  1. Which needleless connector design has been associated with the highest risk of intraluminal contamination and CLABSI?

    Answer: Positive displacement connectors with complex internal pathways

    Positive displacement connectors with complex internal fluid pathways have been associated with increased CLABSI rates due to areas where blood can accumulate and support bacterial growth.

  2. How should needleless connector caps be disinfected before each access?

    Answer: Scrub with 70% isopropyl alcohol or CHG/alcohol for 5–15 seconds and allow to dry

    Scrubbing the needleless connector with an appropriate antiseptic for at least 5–15 seconds followed by air drying reduces hub contamination and CRBSI risk.

  3. A vascular access nurse is inserting a PICC in a patient with a known allergy to chlorhexidine. Which alternative skin antiseptic should be used?

    Answer: Povidone-iodine 10% allowed to dry completely

    Povidone-iodine is the recommended alternative skin antiseptic for patients with chlorhexidine allergy, provided adequate contact time and drying are observed.

  4. What does the acronym CLABSI stand for in the context of infection surveillance?

    Answer: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection

    CLABSI stands for Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection, a specific surveillance definition used by the CDC/NHSN to track and report infections attributable to central venous access.

  5. Which patient population is at HIGHEST risk for developing a catheter-related fungal bloodstream infection?

    Answer: Immunocompromised patients on broad-spectrum antibiotics receiving total parenteral nutrition

    Immunocompromised patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics and TPN are at highest risk for Candida CRBSI due to disrupted normal flora, impaired immunity, and a high-nutrient intraluminal environment.

  6. Under CDC guidelines, routine replacement of central venous catheters over a guidewire is indicated in which situation?

    Answer: When catheter malfunction occurs in the absence of infection

    Guidewire exchange is appropriate when the existing catheter is malfunctioning but there is no evidence of infection; it should not be used as a routine prevention strategy.

  7. Which INS-recommended practice best prevents air embolism—and simultaneously supports infection prevention—during central venous catheter cap changes?

    Answer: Clamping the catheter and having the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver before disconnection

    Clamping the catheter and having the patient perform Valsalva or exhale before cap changes prevents air entry and limits hub exposure time, reducing both air embolism and contamination risk.