Infection Control

Question 1

Method of sterilization for heat sensitive items that require STERILIZATION (Spores/microorganisms)

Answer 1

Heat sensitive items: (low temp) ethylene oxide, plasma, (immersion) Glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehydes with phenol, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide with peracetic acid, peracetic acid

NOTE: immersion method is also considered high level disinfection

Question 2

Steam autoclave 121C (250F) 15 PSI 15-20 minutes. Advantages: good turn around and good penetration. What are some disadvantages?

Answer 2

corrosion dulling of unprotected instruments, packages remain wet

Question 3

Intermediate level disinfection destroys all vegetative bacteria and most fungi/viruses. Does it inactivate mycobacterium (TB)

Answer 3

Yes, EPA claims it kills TB

Chlorine containing products
Quaternary compounds with alcohol phenolics, iodophors

Non-critical with visible blood

Question 4

What is the preferred method to disinfect alginate impressions?

Answer 4

Immersion disinfection for ten minutes with chlorine or iodophors

Question 5

T/F: Sterilization destroys all micro-organisms including bacterial spores. Examples: steam, dry heat, unsaturated chemical vapor, ethylene oxide, plasma sterilization, glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Dental unit waterlines: regulatory standard for safe drinking water is LESS than or equal to ____ CFU/mL

Answer 6

500

Question 7

Infection control categories of patient care instruments: Critical - what are some of the dental instruments that fall into this category?

Answer 7

1) Periodontal scalers
2) Scalpel blades
3) surgical burs
4) surgical instruments

(DENTAL HANDPIECES are SEMI-CRITICAL)

Question 8

Dental unit waterlines: regulatory standard for safe drinking water is LESS than or equal to ____ CFU/mL

Answer 8

500

Question 9

Which is not a sterilizing form of infection control?

a) Glutaraldehyde
b) Glutaraldehydes with phenol
c) Hydrogen peroxide
d) Hydrogen peroxide with peracetic acid
e) Ortho-phyhalal-dehyde

Answer 9

High level disinfectant (microorganisms): glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehydes with phenol, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide with peracetic acid

Ortho-phyhalal-dehyde (OPD is unique to high level of disinfectants and is NOT a sterilant)

Question 10

Low-level disinfectant- destroys vegetative bacteria and most fungi/viruses. Does it inactivate mycobacterium (TB)?

Answer 10

No EPA has NO claim to killing TB

Quaternary ammonium compounds, some phenolics, some iodophors

Non-critical without visible blood, good for cleaning clinical surfaces

Question 11

Which is not a CRITICAL dental instrument or item as it pertains to infection control categories?

a) Surgical instruments
b) Periodontal scalers
c) Scalpel blades
d) Dental handpieces
e) Surgical dental burs

Answer 11

d) Dental handpieces

NOTE: although dental hand pieces are considered a semi critical item, they should always be heat-sterilized between uses and not high-level disinfected

Question 12

You need to kill spores, what type of infection control is indicated?

Answer 12

Sterilization: Destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores
Note: Heat-tolerant critical and semi-critical - steam, dry heat, unsaturated chemical vapor
Heat-sensitive items: ethylene oxide, plasma, Glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehyes with phenol, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, with peracetic acid, peracetic acid

Question 13

Are non sterile gloves to be used?

Answer 13

Yes, unless it is an aseptic procedure

Question 14

Method of sterilization for heat - tolerant critical and semi-critical items that require Sterilization (spores/microorganisms)

Answer 14

(HIGH TEMP) steam, dry heat, unsaturated chemical vapor

Question 15

Which infection control category do the following items fall into?

1) Radiograph head/cone
2) blood pressure cuff
3) face bow
4) pulse oximeter

Answer 15

Non-critical dental equipment: contacts intact skin

Question 16

T/F: High-level disinfection destroys all micro-organisms and all spores

Answer 16

False, not all spores

Question 17

Which infection control category do the following items fall into?

1) Dental mouth mirror
2) amalgam condenser
3) reusable dental impression trays
4) dental hand pieces

Answer 17

SEMI-CRITICAL instruments

1) Contacts mucous membranes or nonintact skin
2) will not penetrate soft tissue, contact bone, enter into or contact the bloodstream or other normally sterile tissue

Question 18

What is the criteria for a dental instrument that calls into the infection control category of CRITICAL?

Answer 18

1) penetrates soft tissue
2) contacts bone
3) enters into or contacts bloodstream