CNA Certification (Written Exam)Infection Control and SafetyMedium
A nurse aide is using a blood pressure cuff that has been used on a resident with a known multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection. After use, what is the appropriate action for the blood pressure cuff?
- AClean and disinfect the cuff before returning it to the shared cart.
- BReturn it to the shared equipment cart for future use.
- CPlace it in the resident's room for their exclusive use.
- DDiscard the cuff in the regular trash bin.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Place it in the resident's room for their exclusive use.
For residents with MDROs, non-critical patient care equipment that comes into contact with intact skin (like a blood pressure cuff) should be dedicated to that resident to prevent cross-contamination. If dedicated equipment isn't feasible, thorough cleaning and disinfection are required before reuse on another patient.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Cleaning and disinfecting is an option if dedication is not possible, but dedicating it to the resident is preferred for MDROs.
- B. Returning a contaminated cuff to a shared cart without disinfection risks spreading MDROs.
- D. A reusable BP cuff should not be discarded unless it is damaged or disposable.
MDRO Equipment Management
Handling and disinfection protocols for patient care equipment used on residents with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) to prevent spread.
- Dedicate non-critical equipment (e.g., BP cuffs, stethoscopes) to the infected resident.
- If dedication is not possible, thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment before reuse.
- Avoid sharing equipment between MDRO-positive and MDRO-negative residents.
- Follow manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and disinfection.
Memory trick: Dedicated gear keeps germs here; sharing spreads fear.