Dish the dirt

Question 1

What are the 6 stages in the chain of infection?

Answer 1

• Infectious agent
• Susceptible host
• Portal of entry
• Means of transmission
• Portal of exit
• Reservoirs

Question 2

What is Spalding’s classification?

Answer 2

Is a judicious process to disinfection and sterilisation of medical equipment and instruments.

Question 3

What are the 4 classifications of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 3

1. Critical (high risk)
2. Semi-critical (medium risk)
3. Non-critical (low risk)
4. Minimal risk

Question 4

What is meant by the ‘critical’ risk of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 4

Items in contact with normally sterile body sites

Question 5

What is meant by the ‘semi-critical’ risk of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 5

Items in contact with intact mucous membranes

Question 6

What is meant by the ‘non-critical’ risk of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 6

Items in contact with intact skin

Question 7

What is meant by the ‘ minimal ‘ risk of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 7

Items not normally in contact with intact skin

Question 8

What are 2 examples of items that would be places into the ‘critical’ risk classification of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 8

• Forceps

- Periodontal scaler

Question 9

What is an example of an item that would be placed into the ‘semi-critical’ risk classification of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 9

Dental handpiece e.g. mirror

Question 10

What is an example of an item that would be placed into the ‘non-critical’ risk classification of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 10

Light cure

Question 11

What is an example of an item that would be placed into the ‘minimal’ risk classification of Spalding’s classification?

Answer 11

Dental chair

Question 12

What would the decontamination process be of low risk items (according to Spalding’s classification)?

Answer 12

Cleaned or chemically disinfected (e.g. disinfectant wipe )

Question 13

What would the decontamination process be of minimal risk items (according to Spalding’s classification)?

Answer 13

Chemically disinfected in risk assessed circumstances

Question 14

What are ‘housekeeping surfaces’?

Answer 14

• Non-critical environmental surfaces

- Not directly touched during dental treatment and carry the lowest risk of disease treatment

Question 15

What are ‘clinical contact’ surfaces?

Answer 15

• Contaminated from patient materials either by direct spray or splatter generated during dental procedures OR
• By contact with gloved hands of dental health care personnel

Question 16

How long can Influenza A&B survive on steel and plastic surfaces?

Answer 16

24-48 hours

Question 17

How long can Influenza A&B survive on cloth, paper and tissues for?

Answer 17

<8-12 hours

Question 18

How long can transmission occur between viruses from steel to hands?

Answer 18

over 24 hours

Question 19

How long can transmission occur between viruses from paper tissue to hands?

Answer 19

for 15 mins

Question 20

How long do viruses survive on hands?

Answer 20

For approx. 5 mins

Question 21

What does body fluids which form surface films facilitate?

Answer 21

Bug attachment - charged organic soils more difficult to remove and protect bugs from dehydration

Question 22

What is a common issue with surface cleaning?

Answer 22

The surface might look clean visually, but there can still be large numbers of bugs and residues

Question 23

What is the definition of detergent?

Answer 23

A group of synthetic organic water soluble agents that have wetting agent, emulsifying and soil holding properties

Question 24

What is the definition for disinfection?

Answer 24

• A process for the removal or destruction of microbes not usually including bacterial spores
• Quantitative definition: ability to produce a 5 log reduction in a defined bacterial population

Question 25

What is a high level disinfectant?

Answer 25

• Kills all microbes (including mycobacteria) but not large numbers of bacterial spores
• Usually require longer contact time (hours)

Question 26

What is a low level disinfectant?

Answer 26

• Kills most vegetative bacteria, some fungi and some viruses in a practical period of time (<10 mins)