Infection Control Worksheet

Name:______Date:______

Please answer all questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES.

1. A nurse is caring for two patients, one has pneumonia, and the other was in a car accident and has a broken leg and arm. The patient with pneumonia is having a severe coughing episode, so the nurse rushes into the room and suctions the mucous out of the patients’ trachea so he may breathe better. Unfortunately, she doesn’t put on gloves or a mask. Four days later, the patient who had been in a car accident develops a severe cough and complains of difficulty breathing. His chest x-ray shows pneumonia. Using the chain of infection, describe how this patient contracted pneumonia.

2. When must standard precautions be used?

3. You are taking care of a patient with severe nausea and vomiting. Name two types of PPE you must wear when caring for this patient.

4. What is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of disease?

5. Name three ways a pathogen can be transmitted from the reservoir host to the susceptible host.

6. Discuss why the support of a pathogen’s life and its reproduction depends on the degree of a host’s resistance. (Think about it!) 7. You are caring for a 10 year old girl with strep throat. This is her third strep throat infection since January. The doctor is concerned about the frequency of her strep infections and orders that her entire family be brought to his office and be tested for strep. Her mom says that no one else in the house is sick and doesn’t understand why they need to be tested. How would you explain to the mother the necessity of testing the other family members?

8. Name four ways a pathogen ENTERS its new host.

9. How does proper identification of a pathogen help break the chain of infection?

10. Name three types of patients that are considered high risk and must be protected from infection.

11. What are 6 ways health care providers can interrupt the chain of infection?

12. Bacteria in your intestine make Vitamin K, which is one of the components necessary for your blood to clot appropriately. You also have many types of bacteria that live on your skin without causing problems. What are these bacteria called?

13. Describe and provide 2 examples of pathogens.

14. You are caring for a small boy who has ringworm on his finger. You see that the doctor has ordered triple antibiotic ointment to treat this condition. Is this appropriate? Why or why not?