Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam

The NNIS Risk Index scoring system incorporates various factors to assess the risk of surgical site infections and other complications. Specifically, preoperative ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) scores are an important component of this system. The ASA classification system reflects a patient's overall physical health status prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

When considering preoperative ASA scores of 3 to 5, the NNIS Risk Index assigns 1 point to this category. ASA scores of 3, 4, and 5 indicate varying degrees of systemic disease, severe systemic disease, and a moribund state, respectively. Assigning 1 point for these scores is essential as it acknowledges that patients in these categories are at a greater risk for complications, including surgical site infections. This scoring approach allows healthcare providers to evaluate patient risks systematically and implement appropriate infection control measures tailored to different risk levels.

For lower ASA scores (such as 1 or 2), the scoring reflects a lower risk, which is why those categories would not receive points in the same manner as scores of 3 to 5. This scoring system is valuable for clinical decision-making and helps in anticipating potential challenges during the surgical process.