Red Flags in Infection Control

We’ve observed students consistently making these critical mistakes when answering infection control questions. Being aware of these common pitfalls will help you avoid them during your exam:

❌ Hand Hygiene Misconceptions:

• Thinking hand sanitizer is always an acceptable alternative to handwashing
• Not recognizing when soap and water are mandatory (visible soil, C. difficile, etc.)
• Rushing through the handwashing time requirement
• Missing critical moments when hand hygiene is required

❌ PPE Selection and Order Errors:

• Confusing the correct sequence of putting on and removing PPE
• Not removing contaminated PPE before leaving isolation rooms
• Using the same PPE for multiple patients
• Forgetting to perform hand hygiene after removing PPE

❌ Isolation Precautions Confusion:

• Mixing up different types of isolation precautions
• Not recognizing which diseases require which type of isolation
• Assuming all isolation requires the same PPE
• Forgetting to check isolation signs before entering rooms

❌ Cross-Contamination Oversights:

• Touching clean items with contaminated gloves
• Not changing gloves between dirty and clean procedures
• Using the same equipment without proper cleaning between patients
• Failing to recognize potential contamination risks

❌ Standard Precautions Application:

• Thinking standard precautions only apply to certain patients
• Not applying standard precautions consistently
• Underestimating the importance of respiratory hygiene
• Failing to recognize when additional precautions are needed

❌ Emergency Situation Errors:

• Forgetting infection control principles during emergencies
• Rushing procedures and skipping essential steps
• Not properly disposing of contaminated materials
• Failing to report exposure incidents

❌ Documentation Mistakes:

• Not documenting infection control measures taken
• Failing to report signs of infection
• Incomplete documentation of isolation precautions
• Missing important infection-related observations

❌ Critical Thinking Errors:

• Choosing the first “reasonable” answer without reading all options
• Not considering the specific context of the question
• Missing key words that change the meaning of questions
• Failing to apply infection control principles to new situations

Remember:

• The exam tests your ability to apply infection control principles, not just memorize them
• Questions often have multiple correct answers, but you must choose the BEST answer
• Pay attention to the specific scenario presented in each question
• Don’t rush through infection control questions – they’re often more complex than they appear

In the next section, we’ll cover specific study strategies and tips to help you master infection control concepts for the exam.