Infection Prevention and Wound Care Practice Questions
15 free Infection Prevention and Wound Care practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What is the primary infection prevention strategy in burn wound care?
- A Give prophylactic systemic antibiotics to every burn patient on admission
- B Strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique during dressing changes, with isolation when needed
- C Leave dressings unchanged for 48 hours to reduce wound manipulation
- D Let visitors handle wound dressings without any protective gear
Correct answer: Strict hand hygiene and aseptic technique during dressing changes, with isolation when needed
Hand hygiene and aseptic technique are foundational to preventing burn wound infection. Institutional protocols emphasize single‐patient use equipment, gloves/gowns, and isolation when needed.
Why is isolation and single‐use equipment recommended for burn patients with >20% TBSA burns?
- A Burn wounds are rarely colonised, so the infection risk stays low
- B Loss of the skin barrier makes patients highly prone to nosocomial infection, so dedicated equipment limits cross-transmission
- C Only burn patients who also have an inhalation injury need isolation
- D Isolation is needed only once the wound begins to show redness
Correct answer: Loss of the skin barrier makes patients highly prone to nosocomial infection, so dedicated equipment limits cross-transmission
The loss of skin barrier and heavy colonisation risk in burns make them vulnerable to hospital‐acquired infection; isolation and dedicated equipment reduce cross-infection.
Which topical agent is commonly used in burn wound care to help prevent infection?
- A Silver sulfadiazine (SSD)
- B Neomycin only applied once
- C Plain petroleum jelly only
- D Hydrogen peroxide daily
Correct answer: Silver sulfadiazine (SSD)
Silver sulfadiazine is widely used as a topical antimicrobial in burn care to prevent wound infection.
What is the recommended method for cleansing a burn wound to reduce infection risk?
- A Scrub the wound vigorously using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol
- B Cleanse gently with mild soap and water and rinse thoroughly
- C Never wash the burn wound until it has fully healed over
- D Apply only dry dressings and avoid cleaning the wound at all
Correct answer: Cleanse gently with mild soap and water and rinse thoroughly
Mild soap and water cleansing helps remove debris and reduce bioburden without damaging tissue; harsh antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide may slow healing.
Why are systemic prophylactic antibiotics not routinely recommended for all burn patients?
- A They are always indicated for any burn covering more than 10 percent TBSA
- B Used indiscriminately they do not lower wound infection or sepsis rates
- C They are required for all skin graft donor and recipient sites only
- D They are clinically equivalent to topical antimicrobial agents in effect
Correct answer: Used indiscriminately they do not lower wound infection or sepsis rates
Studies indicate that systemic prophylaxis in non‐surgical burn patients does not reduce burn wound infections and may promote resistance.
What characteristic of dressing is most important for a patient with partial‐thickness burn wounds?
- A It should stay dry, using plain gauze alone over the wound
- B It should keep the wound moist, absorb exudate, and bar bacteria
- C It should be a thick occlusive layer regardless of infection risk
- D It should be a single one-time application that is never changed
Correct answer: It should keep the wound moist, absorb exudate, and bar bacteria
Dressings should absorb fluid but maintain moist environment and act as barrier against bacteria—especially important in burn wound healing.
When should a burn wound dressing be changed to minimize infection risk?
- A Only when the patient specifically reports pain at the site
- B Daily or per protocol with aseptic technique, assessing for infection
- C Never, leaving it in place until the patient is discharged
- D Only once the dressing has become visibly soiled or saturated
Correct answer: Daily or per protocol with aseptic technique, assessing for infection
Frequent (often daily) dressing changes and wound assessment are necessary to monitor healing and detect early infection.
How can burn wound infection be diagnosed in a patient showing redness, swelling, increased pain, and fever?
- A Colonisation of the wound always equals an active infection
- B Clinical signs plus systemic features matter; colonisation alone is not infection
- C Only a positive wound culture is needed to confirm an infection
- D Fever in a burn patient is never a serious or worrying sign
Correct answer: Clinical signs plus systemic features matter; colonisation alone is not infection
Distinguishing colonisation from infection is critical; burn wound infections require both clinical signs and culture data.
Which pathogen is a frequent concern in burn wound infections that must be monitored?
- A Streptococcus pneumoniae only
- B Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- C Exclusively Gram‐positive Staphylococcus but not Gram‐negatives
- D Candida only
Correct answer: Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common Gram-negative pathogen in burn wounds and is often associated with infections.
Which environmental control measure is indicated for infection prevention in burn patients?
- A Share ordinary towels and linens between adjacent burn patients
- B Use dedicated equipment and linens, with room UV cleaning at turnover
- C Assume no extra cleaning is needed in the burn patient's room
- D Rely only on monitoring staff hand hygiene as the single measure
Correct answer: Use dedicated equipment and linens, with room UV cleaning at turnover
Environmental control (dedicated equipment, proper linens, room cleaning/UV as indicated) is part of burn infection control protocols.
Why do skin integrity and infection prevention remain important in patients with healed deep burns wearing pressure garments for scar prevention?
- A Grafted or healed burn skin becomes effectively immune to infection
- B Periwound tissue stays fragile and prone to breakdown and infection
- C Dressings and skin care are no longer needed once a burn has healed
- D Once healed, only the cosmetic appearance of the skin matters
Correct answer: Periwound tissue stays fragile and prone to breakdown and infection
Healed burn grafts or scars remain at risk for breakdown and infection due to compromised skin integrity; ongoing surveillance and care are required.
Why must each dressing change in burn units follow aseptic technique and have unused supplies discarded?
- A It is simply hospital policy with no real supporting evidence behind it
- B Burn patients are highly infection-prone, so small breaches introduce pathogens
- C All opened ointments and creams must be used up immediately once opened
- D Discarding dressings is what makes the supplies cost-effective to use
Correct answer: Burn patients are highly infection-prone, so small breaches introduce pathogens
Strict aseptic technique and discarding unused supplies help prevent contamination of the wound and reduce infection risk in vulnerable burn patients.
How does debridement in burn wound care affect infection control?
- A Debridement raises infection risk, so it should be delayed as long as possible
- B Early excision and debridement of deep burns lower bioburden and infection
- C Debridement is unnecessary and outdated in modern burn wound care
- D Debridement has no measurable effect on burn wound infection outcomes
Correct answer: Early excision and debridement of deep burns lower bioburden and infection
Early surgical excision or debridement of deep burns reduces microbial burden and therefore risk of infection.
What comprehensive approach should nurses take to prevent burn wound infections?
- A Rely only on systemic antibiotics to keep the wounds free of infection
- B Combine hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, aseptic dressings, monitoring, and topical antimicrobials
- C Focus only on dressing changes while neglecting other infection-control factors
- D Use high doses of systemic antibiotics without any other supporting measures
Correct answer: Combine hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, aseptic dressings, monitoring, and topical antimicrobials
A multi-modal approach (hygiene, aseptic technique, environmental control, topical agents, monitoring) is essential rather than relying solely on antibiotics.
What instruction for home care is emphasized by the nurse while teaching patients discharged with burn wounds to prevent infection?
- A Apply household remedies such as butter or bleach directly to the wound
- B Wash gently daily, apply prescribed ointment, and watch for infection signs
- C Never change the dressing at home until the wound is completely healed
- D Leave the wound open to air and skip dressings or ointment entirely
Correct answer: Wash gently daily, apply prescribed ointment, and watch for infection signs
Proper home wound care—gentle cleansing, applying appropriate ointments, clean dressings, and monitoring for infection—helps prevent complications once the patient is discharged.