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Question 1

Which term is the process of killing all microorganisms and spores?

Answer 1

Sterilisation

Question 2

How often should DUWLs be cleaned with biocide chemicals to prevent biofilm buildup?

Answer 2

After every use

Question 3

What appliance operates at 134 degrees for 3 mins at 2.25 bar pressure with a vacuum?

Answer 3

B type autoclave

Question 4

What is a validation test for ultrasonic baths to ensure all blood has been removed effectively?

Answer 4

Protein residue test

Question 5

Which infective agent causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

Answer 5

Prion

Question 6

Which microorganism causes ANUG (acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis)?

Answer 6

Borrelia vincentii

Question 7

Being infected with what virus is linked to oral cancers?

Answer 7

Human papillomavirus HPV

Question 8

Which infection control procedure aims to eliminate the risk of cross contamination between patients?

Answer 8

Use of single-use items

Question 9

What is a single celled organism that can cause disease?

Answer 9

Bacteria

Question 10

What is useful in destroying bacterial contamination of hard surfaces in the surgery?

Answer 10

Bactericides

Question 11

Which term is used for assuming any patient may be infectious and enshrines this principle of infection control?

Answer 11

Standard precautions

Question 12

What cleaning agent weakens in strength over time so needs to be made fresh regularly?

Answer 12

Bleach based solution

Question 13

Which equipment disinfects hand instruments thermally and replaces the need for manual scrubbing?

Answer 13

Washer disinfector

Question 14

What is physical segregation?

Answer 14

Where a dedicated decontamination area is separated from the patient treatment area in another room

Question 15

How do you break links in the chain of infection?

Answer 15

Handwashing, cleaning surfaces, wearing PPE, cover coughs/sneezes, controlling airflow

Question 16

How does the chain of infection work?

Answer 16

Agent infects reservoir (people, animals, food etc)
germs get out by portal of exit
pass by mode of transmission (contact, droplets)
portal of entry (mouth, eyes, cuts), then infects the next susceptible host

Question 17

When should you wash your hands?

Answer 17

Before touching and after touching a patient
After body fluid exposure
Before cleaning procedures
After touching patient surroundings

Question 18

What daily checks are done to validate a steriliser?

Answer 18

Clean rubber door seal, check chamber, fill tank with distilled water, turn power on, bowie and dick tests

Question 19

How often should an autoclave be serviced by engineer to ensure it complies with Pressure Safety Systems Regs 2000?

Answer 19

Every 14 months

Question 20

How is a washer disinfector validated?

Answer 20

Visual checks
Automatic control test
Chemical dosing
Soil efficacy test

Question 21

What is direct contact?

Answer 21

Where a disease passes person to person through immediate physical contact between people or bodily fluids

Question 22

What is indirect contact?

Answer 22

Touching an object that becomes contaminated by touch and then disease is spread by it touching other things. Can also spread by droplets
(E.g instruments not being disinfected properly then used on other patients and infecting the patients)

Question 23

What is social handwashing?

Answer 23

Routine hand wash using soap and water - removes visible dirt, transient microorganisms and dead skin cells. (Can also be achieved using alcohol gel)

Question 24

What is clinical handwashing?

Answer 24

Removes transient organisms as well as preventing growth of resident microorganisms before or after direct or indirect contact with patients.
Clean with warm water and antibacterial soap for at least 20 secs

Question 25

What is aseptic handwashing?

Answer 25

Most thorough type of handwashing
Use warm water and chlorhexidine disinfectant soap, cleaning from elbows down to fingertips - takes a minimum of 2 minutes

Question 26

Why should you always aim to work in aseptic conditions?

Answer 26

Minimise risk of infection

Question 27

Define decontamination

Answer 27

A process that destroys/removes all microbial contamination to make an environment/instrument safe to use

Question 28

Define disinfection

Answer 28

Process used to reduce the number of microorganisms on a device, but does not necessarily kill them all

Question 29

Define sterilisation

Answer 29

The process of killing all microorganisms

Question 30

What is the correct sequence of events when decontaminating instruments?

Answer 30

Debride, inspect, rinse then scrub

Question 31

Which infectious agent is present as protein capsules living within body cells?

Answer 31

Viruses

Question 32

How does a B type autoclave work?

Answer 32

Air is sucked out so creates a vacuum so steam can touch all areas of wrapped items and hollow items

Question 33

How does a N type autoclave work?

Answer 33

Steam displaces air downwards - only sterilises where it touches
Suitable for unwrapped items on perforated trays

Question 34

What are the 5 stages of a washer disinfector?

Answer 34

Flush
Wash
Rinse
Thermal disinfection
Drying

Question 35

What is the purpose of Portable Appliance testing?

Answer 35

To demonstrate an electrical appliance is safe

Question 36

What is a pathogen?

Answer 36

Microorganism that causes harm, disease and infection
These microorganisms need ‘ideal’ conditions to thrive

Question 37

What is a non-pathogen?

Answer 37

Microorganism that is commensal, meaning not infectious and do not cause disease or harm to their host