H Flashcards
surfaces are ____1_____, instruments are _____2______, people are _____3_______.
a. sanitized
b. washed
c. sterilized
d. cleaned
e. disinfected
1: e / 2: c / 3: a
cross-contamination
the spreading of bacteria or other pathogens from one surface/organism to another
infection control
practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection
give 3 examples of how a cda can prevent the spread of infection?
controlling personal illness, disinfection of OP/instruments, sanitizing oneself (hand-washing), wearing PPE/clinical attire, vaccination
what is the relevance of infection control to healthcare professionals?
we are exposed more than the average population, so it is key that we know how to protect ourselves and our patients from disease, and prevent the cross-contamination of potentially harmful substances
what are the 4 key components to PPE?
- clinical attire (scrubs, closed shoes, lab coat)
- safety glasses
- face mask
- examination gloves
what are some of the body’s defences against infection?
- unbroken skin
- ciliary action (hairs in nose, ears etc.)
- gastric juices
- leukocytes (white blood cells which fight infection)
- immune system
- mucus membranes
- lymphatic system
- chemical defences
what is the importance of dental dams in dentistry?
- create isolation (best visual for operator)
- prevent aspiration/inhalation of foreign objects and substances
list the 3 main types of matrices used, and when they are most commonly used?
1) Tofflemire: for interproximal posterior Ag/comp restorations
2) Mylar Strips: for interproximal anterior composite restorations
3) Sectionals: for interproximal posterior composite restorations
of the 4 key pieces of PPE, which are single-use/disposable & which are reusable/non-disposable?
disposable: face mask, examination gloves
non-disposable: clinical attire, safety glasses
Sterilization
The process that completely destroys all microbial life, including spores
what is the purpose of topical anesthetic
to produce the loss of sensation prior to injections of local anesthetic, to prevent gagging, temp relief from localized diseased areas
What is a vasoconstrictor?
numbing drug which constricts blood vessels to increase duration of anesthetic (& prevents bleeding)
what are pathogens
Disease causing microorganisms
what is meant by the “transmission of pathogens”?
pathogens can be spread from one host to another
List the steps in the chain of infection
—infectious agent (pathogen)
- reservoir
- portal of exit
- transmission
- portal of entry
- susceptible host
why are matrices used during restorative procedures?
to build a temporary wall in place of the one which held the decay (interproximal walls of the tooth)
in relation to the chain of infection, what must be true about the reservoir?
must be suitable for the survival of the pathogens (ie. H2O systems, people, equipment, instruments)
in relation to the chain of infection, what must be true about the infectious agent?
strong, large in quantity. generally will be a bacteria or virus.
in relation to the chain of infection, what are some examples of portals of exit?
- coughing
- sneezing
- blood
- aerosols
- spatter
what are non-disposable items in dentistry?
items which CAN be sterilized and reused rather than thrown away after use
in relation to the chain of infection, list the 3 primary types of transmission & briefly explain each one:
- direct - infectious agent moves from reservoir directly to a susceptible host
- indirect - infectious agent moves from a reservoir to a host indirectly through suspended air particles/inanimate objects
- airborne - infectious agent moves from a reservoir to a host indirectly through either aerosols (small particles) or spatter/droplets (large particles)
how many of the 6 links in the chain of infection have to be present for an infection to potentially occur?
All 6 of them
what are disposable items in dentistry?
items which CANNOT be sterilized and must be disposed of after use
