There is no strong evidence that isolating infected cases in a separate surgical suite reduces SSI risk.
Step-by-Step Justification:
* SSI Prevention Strategies Supported by Evidence:
* Preoperative hospital stay limitation reduces exposure to hospital-acquired pathogens.
* Antimicrobial preoperative scrubs lower bacterial load on the skin.
* Adequate nutrition improves immune function and wound healing.
* Why Designating a Separate Surgical Suite Is Not Effective:
* Operating room environmental controls (e.g., laminar airflow, sterilization protocols) are more important than suite designation.
* No significant reduction in SSIs has been observed by segregating infected cases into specific OR suites.
Why Other Options Are Correct:
* A. Limiting preoperative hospital stay: Reduces nosocomial bacterial exposure.
* B. Antimicrobial preoperative scrub: Decreases skin flora contamination.
* C. Assuring adequate patient nutrition: Enhances immune defense against infections.
CBIC Infection Control References:
* APIC Text, "Surgical Site Infection Prevention Strategies".

The correct answer is C, "Mucormycosis," as it is the infectious disease associated with environmental fungi.
According to the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) guidelines, mucormycosis is caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales, which are commonly found in the environment, including soil, decaying organic matter, and contaminated water. These fungi can become opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, leading to severe infections such as rhinocerebral, pulmonary, or cutaneous mucormycosis (CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain I:
Identification of Infectious Disease Processes, Competency 1.1 - Identify infectious disease processes).
Environmental exposure, such as inhalation of fungal spores or contact with contaminated materials, is a primary mode of transmission, making it directly linked to environmental fungi.
Option A (Listeriosis) is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, typically associated with contaminated food products (e.g., unpasteurized dairy or deli meats) rather than environmental fungi. Option B (Hantavirus) is a viral infection transmitted through contact with rodent excreta, not fungi, and is linked to environmental reservoirs like rodent-infested areas. Option D (Campylobacter) is a bacterial infection caused by Campylobacter species, often associated with undercooked poultry or contaminated water, and is not related to fungi.
The association of mucormycosis with environmental fungi underscores the importance of infection prevention strategies, such as controlling environmental contamination and protecting vulnerable patients, which aligns with CBIC's focus on identifying and mitigating risks from infectious agents in healthcare settings (CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain III: Infection Prevention and Control, Competency 3.2 - Implement measures to prevent transmission of infectious agents). This knowledge is critical for infection preventionists to guide environmental cleaning and patient care protocols.
References: CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain I: Identification of Infectious Disease Processes, Competency 1.1 - Identify infectious disease processes; Domain III: Infection Prevention and Control, Competency 3.2 - Implement measures to prevent transmission of infectious agents.

Pseudomonasspp., particularlyPseudomonas aeruginosa, is acommon waterborne pathogen. Using tap water to rinse suction tubing has been associated withoutbreaks ofPseudomonasinfections.
* From theAPIC Text:
"Water bottles improperly filled with tap water and used for rinsing tracheal suction tubing resulted in an outbreak ofP. cepacia... Tubing permanently attached to showers... implicated in a serious outbreak ofP.
aeruginosabloodstream infection."
References:
APIC Text, 4th Edition, Chapter 117 - Waterborne Pathogens

The correct answer is D, "Study," as this is the step in the Shewhart/Deming cycle (commonly known as the Plan-Do-Study-Act [PDSA] cycle) where the results of the interventions are compared with the original goal.
According to the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) guidelines, the PDSA cycle is a systematic approach to quality improvement, widely used in infection control programs to test and refine interventions. The cycle consists of four stages: Plan (designing the intervention and setting goals), Do (implementing the intervention on a small scale), Study (analyzing the data and comparing outcomes against the original goal), and Act (standardizing successful changes or adjusting based on findings) (CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain IV: Education and Research, Competency 4.2 - Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs). The Study phase is critical for assessing whether the intervention achieved the intended reduction in infection rates or other performance metrics, providing evidence to guide the next steps.
Option A (Do) involves the execution of the planned intervention, focusing on implementation rather than evaluation, so it does not include comparing results. Option B (Act) is the final step where successful interventions are implemented on a broader scale or adjustments are made, but it follows the comparison made in the Study phase. Option C (Plan) is the initial stage of setting objectives and designing the intervention, which occurs before any results are available for comparison.
The emphasis on the Study phase aligns with CBIC's focus on using data to evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies, ensuring that performance improvement projects are evidence-based and goal- oriented (CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain II: Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation, Competency 2.4 - Evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control interventions). This step enables the infection preventionist to determine if the original goal-such as reducing healthcare-associated infections-was met, facilitating continuous improvement.
References: CBIC Practice Analysis, 2022, Domain II: Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigation, Competency 2.4 - Evaluate the effectiveness of infection prevention and control interventions; Domain IV:
Education and Research, Competency 4.2 - Evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs.

* The Chi-square test is the most appropriate test for comparing infection rates (categorical data) before and after an intervention.
CBIC Infection Control References:
* CIC Study Guide, "Statistical Analysis in Infection Control," Chapter 5.