C HAPTER 16: I NFECTION P REVENTION AND
C ONTROL : P ROTECTIVE M ECHANISMS AND
A SEPSIS
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse instructing a patient in the home use of disinfectant would
include the inform ation that the disinfectant can be used to:
a. decrease organisms on the patient’s body but take care not to use it
around the patient’s eyes or in the mouth.
b. sterilize instruments with a bacteriostatic disinfectant.
c. thoroughl y clean and rinse all soap off th e equipment before
disinfecting it.
d. first remove all organic matter prior to disinfecting.
ANS: C
Disinfectants are irritating to the skin. Bacteriostatic disinfectants onl y
weaken or slow the growth of organisms; they do not kill them. Hot
water hardens organic matter; therefore equipment should be rinsed
with cold water before hot soapy water is used.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 230
OBJ: Theory #6 TOP: Disinfection KEY: Nursing
, Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe
Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection control
2. The nurse is aware that the use of ethylene oxide gas is reserved for the
sterilization of:
a. dressings.
b. surgical instruments.
c. heat-sensitive items.
d. floors and walls.
ANS: C
Ethylene oxide is used to s terilize heat -sensitive items and offers good
penetration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 230 OBJ:
Theory #8 TOP: Cleaning and Disinfection KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective
Care Environment: safet y and infec tion control
3. The nurse recommends a good agent for disinfecting contaminated areas in
the home is:
a. to cover the area with boiling water and let air dry.
b. a 1:10 solution of chlorine bleach.
c. a 1:2 solution of alcohol.
d. to soak in a solution of povidone -iodine for 30 minutes and rinse
with hot water.
ANS: B
, A 1:10 solution of chlorine bleach is a good home disinfectant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 230
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Asepsis in the Home Environment
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection
control
4. The situation in which protective eyewear is required is:
a. suctioning a tracheotom y.
b. appl ying a dressing on the leg.
c. changing a baby’s diaper.
d. gathering the linens off a contaminated bed.
ANS: A
Suctioning a tracheotom y causes the patient to cough and spray mucus.
Protective eyewear is used when there is danger of splashing blood or
body fluids, such as in the operating room. It is not necessary in the
other situations.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 226, Skill 16 -2
OBJ: Clinical Practice #3 TOP: Standard Precautions
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection
control
C ONTROL : P ROTECTIVE M ECHANISMS AND
A SEPSIS
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse instructing a patient in the home use of disinfectant would
include the inform ation that the disinfectant can be used to:
a. decrease organisms on the patient’s body but take care not to use it
around the patient’s eyes or in the mouth.
b. sterilize instruments with a bacteriostatic disinfectant.
c. thoroughl y clean and rinse all soap off th e equipment before
disinfecting it.
d. first remove all organic matter prior to disinfecting.
ANS: C
Disinfectants are irritating to the skin. Bacteriostatic disinfectants onl y
weaken or slow the growth of organisms; they do not kill them. Hot
water hardens organic matter; therefore equipment should be rinsed
with cold water before hot soapy water is used.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 230
OBJ: Theory #6 TOP: Disinfection KEY: Nursing
, Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe
Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection control
2. The nurse is aware that the use of ethylene oxide gas is reserved for the
sterilization of:
a. dressings.
b. surgical instruments.
c. heat-sensitive items.
d. floors and walls.
ANS: C
Ethylene oxide is used to s terilize heat -sensitive items and offers good
penetration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 230 OBJ:
Theory #8 TOP: Cleaning and Disinfection KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective
Care Environment: safet y and infec tion control
3. The nurse recommends a good agent for disinfecting contaminated areas in
the home is:
a. to cover the area with boiling water and let air dry.
b. a 1:10 solution of chlorine bleach.
c. a 1:2 solution of alcohol.
d. to soak in a solution of povidone -iodine for 30 minutes and rinse
with hot water.
ANS: B
, A 1:10 solution of chlorine bleach is a good home disinfectant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 230
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Asepsis in the Home Environment
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection
control
4. The situation in which protective eyewear is required is:
a. suctioning a tracheotom y.
b. appl ying a dressing on the leg.
c. changing a baby’s diaper.
d. gathering the linens off a contaminated bed.
ANS: A
Suctioning a tracheotom y causes the patient to cough and spray mucus.
Protective eyewear is used when there is danger of splashing blood or
body fluids, such as in the operating room. It is not necessary in the
other situations.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 226, Skill 16 -2
OBJ: Clinical Practice #3 TOP: Standard Precautions
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment: safet y and infection
control
