Disinfection and Sterilization

Question 1

What is a critical infection-control instrument?

Answer 1

Penetrates soft tissue, contacts bone, enters into or contacts the bloodstream or other normally sterile tissues

Surgical instruments, scalers, scalpel blades, dental burs, extraction forceps etc

Question 2

What is a semicritical infection-control instrument?

Answer 2

Contacts intact mucous membrane but does not penetrate tissue

Mouth mirror, amalgam condenser, impression trays

Question 3

What is a noncritical infection-control instrument?

Answer 3

Device only contacts intact skin

Stethoscope

Question 4

Level of decontamination required for critical instruments?

Answer 4

Sterilization

Question 5

Level of decontamination required for semicritical instruments?

Answer 5

High level disinfection, sterilization where practicable

Question 6

Level of decontamination required for noncritical instruments?

Answer 6

Cleaning and low level disinfection where necessary

Question 7

What is glutaraldehyde active against and inactivated by?

Answer 7

Active against everything, including viruses

Inactivated by corrosive actions, maybe proteins

Question 8

What are chlorine compounds active against and inactivated by?

Answer 8

Bacteria, spores, viruses, some TB

Inactivated by proteins and corrosive action

Question 9

What are lodophors active against and inactivated by?

Answer 9

Bacteria, not rly spores, some TB

Inactivated by proteins

Question 10

What are phenolics active against and inactivated by?

Answer 10

Bacteria, some TB

Inactivated by some corrosive action and proteins

Question 11

What are alcohols active against and inactivated by?

Answer 11

Bacteria, some TB

Inactivated by proteins

Question 12

What is chlorhexidine active against and inactivated by?

Answer 12

GPC, some GNB

Inactivated by soap and some proteins