Infection Control and Emergency Response
This domain tests standard precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, waste handling and response to emergencies in the imaging department.
Core rules
- Standard precautions apply to every patient. Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact and after removing gloves.
- Use PPE according to risk: gloves, gown, mask, eye protection. Remove PPE without contaminating skin or clothing.
- Clean and disinfect equipment between patients. Handle sharps safely and segregate waste by local policy.
- For contrast reaction or anaphylaxis: stop the injection, call for emergency help, maintain the airway, give oxygen and follow the department's medication protocol.
- For fire, evacuation, patient fall or cardiac arrest, know the emergency numbers, exits and role assignment.
Worked example
A patient develops urticaria, wheeze and hypotension after iodinated contrast. The reasoning is to recognize anaphylaxis, stop contrast, call the emergency team, position the patient safely, give oxygen and administer epinephrine as protocol directs. Do not wait to finish the scan or send the patient home. Document the event and later report it.
Traps
Do not wear gloves as a substitute for hand hygiene. Do not remove PPE in the patient area in a way that contaminates yourself. Do not assume mild urticaria cannot progress. Do not delay emergency activation to complete paperwork.