Cross Infection Control

Question 1

What is cross infection?

Answer 1

Transmission of a pathogenic organism from one person to another

Question 2

Name 5 basic ways to reduce cross infection risk

Answer 2

1. Minimising BBV transmission
2. Decontamination of instruments
3. Work surfaces and equipment
4. Hand hygiene
5. Clinical waste and PPE disposal

Question 3

Name 3 reasons hand hygiene is important

Answer 3

1. Prevent spread of infection by contact
2. Remove transient organisms picked up during normal activity
3. Reduce number of organisms below infecting dose prior to transfer

Question 4

How do you wash your hands?

Answer 4

7 step technique

Question 5

Name the 5 times a clinician should be washing their hands

Answer 5

1. Before touching patient
2. Before aseptic procedure
3. After body fluid risk exposure
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching patient surroundings

Question 6

Describe hand rub as an alternative to full hand hygiene

Answer 6

• Can be used providing hands not visibly soiled
• Washed with soap and water following several applications of rub
• Not affective against C. difficile and some viruses e.g norovirus

Question 7

State whether detergent or alcohol rub should be used by a clinician at the start of a session

Answer 7

Detergent

Question 8

State whether detergent or alcohol rub should be used by a clinician before putting gloves on

Answer 8

Alcohol rub

Question 9

State whether detergent or alcohol rub should be used by a clinician after taking off gloves

Answer 9

Detergent

Question 10

State whether detergent or alcohol rub should be used by a clinician when returning to bay following removal of PPE

Answer 10

Alcohol rub

Question 11

State whether detergent or alcohol rub should be used by a clinician at the end of the session

Answer 11

Detergent

Question 12

Describe steps in donning PPE

Answer 12

• Wash hands
• Put on plastic apron
• Fit mask to face
• Put on visor
• Put on gloves

Question 13

Describe steps in doffing PPE

Answer 13

• Gloves
• Take off mask
• Take off glasses
• Remove apron
• Wash hands

Question 14

What is an important point in preventing Sharps injury?

Answer 14

Never re-sheath needles without a safety device

Question 15

What is a Sharps injury?

Answer 15

Any contaminated sharp which breaches the skin

Question 16

What is meant by the term zoning?

Answer 16

Clearly identified zones marked clean and dirty to reduce the risk of cross infection

Question 17

What are 5 important “dont’s” in the clinic with regards to cross infection

Answer 17

1. Write or touch notes with gloves on
2. Touch materials with gloves on
3. Go into drawers with gloves on
4. Touch any object in patient’s immediate environment
5. Leave clinic while wearing any PPE

Question 18

Describe what things are disposable in the clinic

Answer 18

• PPE
• Cotton wool roles
• Needles, files and burs
• 3 in 1 tips and suction tubes
• Rubber dams, impression trays, LA cartridges

Question 19

What is a good way to distinguish between disposable and reusable instruments?

Answer 19

• Disposable instruments tend to have a 2 in a circle on them
• Reusable instruments tend to have CDU paperwork tracking the instrument

Question 20

Describe non-disposable things in the clinic

Answer 20

• Handpieces
• Apex locator
• Grey connector for 3 in 1
• Ultrasonic scaler tips
• Composite guns
• Perio probe

Question 21

Describe how PPE has changed since COVID-19 for aerosol generating procedures

Answer 21

Level 2 PPE used which includes surgical gowns, shoe covers, FFP3 mask, visor, hair net and gloves

Question 22

Name 3 examples of AGPs in dentistry

Answer 22

1. Procedures using fast handpiece
2. S+P using ultrasonic scaler
3. Use of 3 in 1

Question 23

Describe the term “Fallow Time”

Answer 23

If an AGP procedure is carried out that surgery must be closed and left for 1 hour before cleaning process begins due to COVID-19