1 Foundations of Healthcare Infection Prevention and Safety Free Online FlashCards

Who should receive Standard Precautions?

Standard Precautions are baseline infection-prevention measures used for every patient, regardless of known or suspected infection.

When are Transmission-Based Precautions added?

Add Transmission-Based Precautions to Standard Precautions when a suspected or confirmed infection calls for additional controls.

Name key moments for hand hygiene.

Clean hands before patient contact and aseptic tasks, after patient or environmental contact, after blood or body-fluid contact, and after removing gloves.

When should you use soap and water instead of hand rub?

Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled; alcohol-based hand rub is suitable for most other clinical situations.

Do gloves replace hand hygiene?

No. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene; clean hands at the appropriate moments, including after glove removal.

What determines which PPE to wear?

Choose PPE according to the task and anticipated exposure, such as contact with fluids or a risk of splashing.

Can a syringe be reused for another patient if its needle is changed?

Never reuse a syringe or needle for another patient, even if the needle is changed.

What should you do immediately after a possible exposure?

Immediately wash affected skin with soap and water or flush affected mucous membranes with water. Then report the incident and seek prompt medical evaluation under facility procedures.

What controls help prevent sharps exposure?

Safer sharps devices and immediate disposal in appropriate sharps containers are primary ways to reduce exposure.

Who is covered by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

It applies to workers with reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

How can incident reporting improve patient safety?

Incident reporting helps organizations identify patterns and improve systems; follow local policy and protect patient confidentiality.

How do CDC and OSHA differ in their roles?

CDC issues public-health guidance and recommendations; OSHA sets and enforces applicable federal workplace-safety requirements.