A patient with active shingles (herpes zoster) is contagious to individuals who have never had varicella (chickenpox) or the varicella vaccine. The best roommate selection is someone who has received the varicella vaccine, as they are considered immune and not at risk for contracting the virus.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?
* B. Treatment with acyclovir - Acyclovir treats herpes zoster but does not prevent transmission to others.
* C. A history of herpes simplex - Prior herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection does not confer immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
* D. Varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) - VZIG provides temporary immunity but does not offer long-term protection like the vaccine.
CBIC Infection Control Reference
APIC guidelines recommend placing patients with active shingles in a room with individuals immune to varicella, such as those vaccinated.

To determine the best study design for providing evidence of a direct causal relationship between an experimental factor and an outcome, it is essential to understand the strengths and limitations of each study design listed. The goal is to identify a design that minimizes bias, controls for confounding variables, and establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
* A. A case report: A case report is a detailed description of a single patient or a small group of patients with a particular condition or outcome, often including the experimental factor of interest. While case reports can generate hypotheses and highlight rare occurrences, they lack a control group and are highly susceptible to bias. They do not provide evidence of causality because they are observational and anecdotal in nature. This makes them the weakest design for establishing a direct causal relationship.
* B. A descriptive study: Descriptive studies, such as cross-sectional or cohort studies, describe the characteristics or outcomes of a population without manipulating variables. These studies can identify associations between an experimental factor and an outcome, but they do not establish causality due to the absence of randomization or control over confounding variables. For example, a descriptive study might show that a certain infection rate is higher in a group exposed to a specific factor, but it cannot prove the factor caused the infection without further evidence.
* C. A case control study: A case control study compares individuals with a specific outcome (cases) to those without (controls) to identify factors that may contribute to the outcome. This retrospective design is useful for studying rare diseases or outcomes and can suggest associations. However, it is prone to recall bias and confounding, and it cannot definitively prove causation because the exposure is not controlled or randomized. It is stronger than case reports or descriptive studies but still falls short of establishing direct causality.
* D. A randomized-controlled trial (RCT): An RCT is considered the gold standard for establishing causality in medical and scientific research. In an RCT, participants are randomly assigned to either an experimental group (exposed to the factor) or a control group (not exposed or given a placebo).
Randomization minimizes selection bias and confounding variables, while the controlled environment allows researchers to isolate the effect of the experimental factor on the outcome. The ability to compare outcomes between groups under controlled conditions provides the strongest evidence of a direct causal relationship. This aligns with the principles of evidence-based practice, which the CBIC (Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology) emphasizes for infection prevention and control strategies.
Based on this analysis, the randomized-controlled trial (D) is the study design that provides the best evidence of a direct causal relationship. This conclusion is consistent with the CBIC's focus on high-quality evidence to inform infection control practices, as RCTs are prioritized in the hierarchy of evidence for establishing cause- and-effect relationships.
References:
* CBIC Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Core Competency Model (updated guidelines, 2023), which emphasizes the use of high-quality evidence, including RCTs, for validating infection control interventions.
* CBIC Examination Content Outline, Domain I: Identification of Infectious Disease Processes, which underscores the importance of evidence-based study designs in infection control research.

The scenario involves an infection preventionist (IP) assisting pharmacists in addressing medication contamination at the hospital's compounding pharmacy, with a focus on the medication recall process. The IP' s role is to apply infection control expertise to mitigate risks, guided by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) principles and best practices. The recall process requires a systematic approach to identify, contain, and resolve the issue, and the "first" or most critical step must be determined.
Let's evaluate each option:
* A. Have laboratory culture all medication: Culturing all medication to confirm contamination is a valuable step to identify affected batches and guide the recall. However, this is a resource-intensive process that depends on first understanding the scope and source of the problem. Without identifying the potential source of contamination, culturing all medication could be inefficient and delay the recall.
This step is important but secondary to initial investigation.
* B. Inspect for safe injection practices: Inspecting for safe injection practices (e.g., single-use vials, proper hand hygiene, sterile technique) is a critical infection control measure, especially in compounding pharmacies where contamination often arises from procedural errors (e.g., reuse of syringes, improper cleaning). While this is a proactive step to preventfuture contamination, it addresses ongoing practices rather than the immediate recall process for the current contamination event. It is a complementary action but not the first priority.
* C. Identify the potential source of contamination: Identifying the potential source of contamination is the foundational step in the recall process. This involves investigating the compounding environment (e.
g., water quality, equipment, personnel practices), raw materials, and production processes to pinpoint where the contamination occurred (e.g., bacterial ingress, cross-contamination). The CBIC emphasizes root cause analysis as a key infection prevention strategy, enabling targeted recalls, corrective actions, and prevention of recurrence. This step is essential before culturing, inspecting, or notifying patients, making it the IP's primary responsibility in this context.
* D. Inform all discharged patients of potential medication contamination: Notifying patients is a critical step to ensure public safety and allow for medical follow-up if they received contaminated medication.
However, this action requires prior identification of the contaminated batches and their distribution, which depends on determining the source and confirming the extent of the issue. Premature notification without evidence could cause unnecessary alarm and is not the first step in the recall process.
The best answer is C, as identifying the potential source of contamination is the initial and most critical step in the medication recall process. This allows the IP to collaborate with pharmacists to trace the contamination, define the affected products, and guide subsequent actions (e.g., culturing, inspections, notifications). This aligns with CBIC's focus on systematic investigation and risk mitigation in healthcare-associated infection events.
:
CBIC Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Core Competency Model (updated 2023), Domain III:
Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, which includes identifying sources of contamination in healthcare settings.
CBIC Examination Content Outline, Domain V: Management and Communication, which emphasizes root cause analysis during outbreak investigations.
CDC Guidelines for Safe Medication Compounding (2022), which recommend identifying contamination sources as the first step in a recall process.

Standard Precautions are sufficient for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), which means that gloves should be used when handling body fluids. CMV is primarily transmitted via direct contact with saliva, urine, or blood.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?
* A. Wear masks and gloves - Masks are not necessary unless performing high-risk aerosol- generating procedures.
* C. No barrier precautions are needed - Gloves are required when handling bodily fluids to prevent transmission.
* D. Use gowns, masks, gloves, and a private room - CMV does not require Contact or Airborne Precautions.
CBIC Infection Control Reference
APIC guidelines state that CMV transmission is prevented using Standard Precautions, primarily with glove use for body fluid contact.

To determine which management activity should be performed first, we need to consider the logical sequence of steps in effective project or program management, particularly in the context of infection control as guided by CBIC principles. Management activities typically follow a structured process, and the order of these steps is critical to ensuring successful outcomes.
* A. Evaluate project results: Evaluating project results involves assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of a project after its implementation. This step relies on having completed the project or at least reached a stage where outcomes can be measured. Performing this activity first would be premature, as there would be no results to evaluate without prior planning, goal-setting, and execution. Therefore, this cannot be the first step.
* B. Establish goals: Establishing goals is the foundational step in any management process. Goals provide direction, define the purpose, and set the criteria for success. In the context of infection control, as emphasized by CBIC, setting clear objectives (e.g., reducing healthcare-associated infections by a specific percentage) is essential before any other activities can be planned or executed. This step aligns with the initial phase of strategic planning, making it the logical first activity. Without established goals, subsequent steps lack focus and purpose.
* C. Plan and organize activities: Planning and organizing activities involve developing a roadmap to achieve the goals, including timelines, resources, and tasks. This step depends on having clear goals to guide the planning process. In infection control, this might include designing interventions to meet infection reduction targets. While critical, it cannot be the first step because planning requires a predefined objective to be effective.
* D. Assign responsibility for projects: Assigning responsibility involves delegating tasks and roles to individuals or teams. This step follows the establishment of goals and planning, as responsibilities need to be aligned with the specific objectives and organized activities. In an infection control program, this might mean assigning staff to monitor compliance with hand hygiene protocols. Doing this first would be inefficient without a clear understanding of the goals and plan.
The correct sequence in management, especially in a structured field like infection control, begins with establishing goals to provide a clear target. This is followed by planning and organizing activities, assigning responsibilities, and finally evaluating results. The CBIC framework supports this approach by emphasizing the importance of setting measurable goals as part of the infection prevention and control planning process, which is a prerequisite for all subsequent actions.
References:
* CBIC Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Core Competency Model (updated 2023), Domain V:
Management and Communication, which highlights the importance of setting goals as the initial step in managing infection control programs.
* CBIC Examination Content Outline, Domain V: Leadership and Program Management, which underscores the need for goal-setting prior to planning and implementation of infection control initiatives.