Exam 1 - Infection Control Flashcards
Upper respiratory tract flora
Normal flora is aerobic, gram + cocci, actinomycetes, anaerobic bacteria and candidal species
Flora of the nose and paranasal sinuses
gram + aerobic streptococci and anaerobes
Children may have H influenzae
Adults have Staph aureus
Normal flora is limited by the presence of ciliated respiratory epithelium
Maxillofacial skin flora
staph epidermidis and C. diphtheriae dominate
Nonmaxillofacial flora
below clavicles comprises gradually increasing numbers of AEROBIC gram NEGATIVE and anaerobic enteric organisms
Hepatitis viruses A, B, C and D
responsible for most infectious hepatitis
Hep A spreads by?
contact with feces of infected individuals
Hep C spreads by?
Feces or contaminated blood
Hep B and D spreads by?
contact with any human secretions
How to inactivate the virus?
halogen-containing disinfectants, formaldehyde, ethylene oxide gas, heat sterilization and irradiation
Mycobacterial organisms (M. Tuberculosis) transmission
Transmitted primarily through exhaled aerosols
Antiseptic and disinfectants
antiseptics - applied to living tissue to prevent multiplication of organisms capable of causing infection
Disinfectants - designed for use on inanimate objects
Sterility
freedom from viable forms of microorganisms
Sanitization
reduction of the number of viable microorganisms to levels judged safe by public health standards
Decontamination
similar to sanitization
Sterilization with heat (Dry Heat)
advantage - easy and not likely to damage heat -resistant instruments
disadvantage - time necessary and potential damage to heat-sensitive equipment
Sterilization with heat (Moist heat)
more efficient than dry heat bc effective at much lower temps and less time
disadvantages - tendency to dull and rust instruments and cost of autoclaves
All sterilization items should be labeled with expiration date no longer than?
6-12 months
Gaseous sterilization type of gas
Ethylene oxide
Gaseous sterilization does what
destroys enzymes and other vital biochemical structures
Gaseous sterilization advantages
good for porous material, large equipment and material sensitive to heat and moisture
Gaseous sterilization disadvantages
need special equipment and the length of time it takes
Ethyl oxide is highly toxic to animal tissue so equipment must be aerated for 8-12 hours at 50 degree C for 4-7 days
Are quaternary ammonium compounds recommended for dentistry?
NO, they are not effective against hepatitis B virus and become inactivated by soap and anionic agents
