10. Anesthesia providers have been under scrutiny in recent epi-
demiological studies for their potential role in transferring bacteria
to patients' bloodstreams. What do infection preventionists recom-
mend to keep the IV line uncontaminated?
a. using general anesthesia as often as possible
b. having anesthesia providers direct scrub nurses to deliver injections
c. supplying disinfectant wipes at every anesthesia machine
d. none of the above
Answer: c. Mounting a container of wipes on a provider's worksta-
tion, and making sure to replace it when it runs out, will make it easi-
er for the provider to thoroughly disinfect surface areas, knobs, dials
and other high-touch surfaces between cases, as well as medication
vial lids and injection ports throughout a procedure.
11. True or false? You must mop the entire OR floor after every
case.
a. true b. false
Answer: b. The OR floor must be fully mopped during terminal
cleaning, of course, but between cases mopping the immediate sur-
gical area as well as any high-traffic areas should suffice, infection
prevention experts say, unless bodily fluids have spilled or dripped
elsewhere, or other visible soiling has occurred.
12. When mopping floors with a disinfectant solution,
which step should not be a routine part of the process?
a. cleaning and drying the refillable buckets
b. checking the product's expiration date
c. topping off the bucket when it is half-empty
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