Antimicrobials – The Battle of the Microbes
These agents kill or inhibit microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
What are antimicrobials?
True or False: Antibiotics can be given anytime as long as they’re documented.
What is False?
The primary goal of infection control in acute care is to prevent these.
What are hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)?
Surgical site infections typically occur within this timeframe post-surgery (or 90 days with implants).
What is 30 days?
Influenza causes between 12,000 and 52,000 deaths per year in this country.
What is the United States?
In U.S. hospitals, 20–50% of this type of medication use is unnecessary or suboptimal.
What are antibiotics?
These are measured to ensure drug levels stay within the therapeutic range.
What are peaks and troughs?
This represents infection prevention rather than infection control.
What is using sterile technique for central line insertion?
The mortality of SSIs is usually due to this complication.
What is sepsis and organ failure?
The best communication style for vaccine-hesitant patients.
What is confident, presumptive language with strong recommendations?
This nursing action supports antimicrobial stewardship by evaluating antibiotic appropriateness during rounds.
What is rounding with the care team?
If antibiotic levels fall below the MIC, this may occur.
What is increased bacterial resistance and regrowth?
Each extra day with a Foley catheter increases CAUTI risk by this percentage range.
What is 3–7%?
An early sign of sepsis includes shivering and a temperature above this value.
What is 38.3°C?
This group is considered “hard to reach” regarding vaccination efforts.
Who are geographically remote or unhoused individuals?
These antibiotic classes (like penicillins and cephalosporins) need consistent dosing intervals to remain effective.
What are beta-lactams?
True or False: Aminoglycosides like gentamicin should never be given early due to timing-sensitive toxicity.
What is True?
The most effective way to prevent CAUTI.
What is early removal of the catheter when no longer necessary?
When early sepsis is suspected, this is the nurse’s first action.
What is obtain cultures, notify provider, and anticipate IV fluids and antibiotics?
An infection prevention bundle is defined as this.
What is a set of simple, evidence-based practices that work synergistically together?
When a dose is delayed, this is the correct nursing response.
What is re-timing the dosing schedule based on the actual administration time?
In the Marcus case study, this action could’ve prevented a vancomycin timing error.
What is communicating the IV infiltration and delay to the lab and provider immediately?
This intervention prevents most CLABSIs.
What is using aseptic technique and daily line necessity review?
This postoperative change, temperature rise and new incision tenderness, should prompt what nursing action?
What is obtain wound cultures and notify the provider?
Evaluating infection control includes these three types of measures.
What are process, outcome, and sustainability measures?