Certification in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) Practice Exam

What is the best immediate intervention for a patient with signs of infection in their surgical wound?

1. Notify the healthcare provider and check vital signs

2. Reassure the patient and recheck the wound in a few hours

3. Support the patient's fluid and nutritional needs

4. Alert the patient about the infection risk

The correct answer is: Notify the healthcare provider and check vital signs

The best immediate intervention for a patient showing signs of infection in their surgical wound is to notify the healthcare provider and check vital signs. This action is crucial because it allows for prompt assessment and potential management of the infection. Monitoring vital signs can provide critical information about the patient's condition, including indicators such as fever, increased heart rate, or changes in blood pressure, which may signify systemic involvement or deterioration. Alerting the healthcare provider ensures that the patient receives appropriate medical intervention, such as further diagnostic testing or initiation of antibiotic therapy. Early recognition and management are key to preventing complications, particularly in surgical patients who may be at higher risk for sepsis or other serious infections. Other interventions, while important, do not provide the immediate response necessary in this context. For instance, reassuring the patient does not address the underlying issue and delaying further assessment may allow the infection to worsen. Supporting fluid and nutritional needs, while beneficial for recovery, does not contribute to the immediate management of infection. Alerting the patient about infection risk is also informative but does not facilitate immediate medical intervention that may be required given the signs of infection.