Infection Control (EV) Flashcards
Which are killed during sterilization?
Viruses, Spores, Fungi, Bacteria '' Sterilization kills all forms of microbial life, including viruses, spores, fungi, and bacteria
Which is NOT a component of hazard communication training?
Colleting waivers for hepatitis B vaccinations.
‘‘The collection of hepatitis B vaccination waivers is not a component of hazard communication training. Hazard communication training involves identifying the hazards of chemicals in the dental environment, explaining their proper handling and labeling, and fostering the availability of MSDS materials.
Replace plastic light handle covers
after every patient
‘’ Light handle covers are contaminated during treatment and must be discarded and replaced after each patient
Which action is necessary when the outside of a biohazard bag becomes contaminated?
Place it inside another biohazard bag
‘‘If the outside of a biohazard bag becomes contaminated, simply place it inside another biohazard bag. Processing it through a steam autoclave, disinfecting the outside surface, or placing it in the regular trash is prohibited.
Who determines the hazards of a chemical?
Manufacturer
‘‘The dental manufacturer is responsible for determining the hazards of a chemical and must provide an MSDS for each product sent to the dental office.
Which best describes the purpose of holding (presoaking) instruments prior to cleaning?
Make cleaning easier
‘‘Holding or presoaking makes cleaning easier by removing the bioburden on the instrument, which insulates microorganisms from the sterilizing agent. A dirty instrument will not become sterile.
Which is NOT a clinical contact surface?
Operatory wall
‘‘The operatory wall is not a clinical contact surface. Clinical contact surfaces are those areas that are touched with contaminated hands, instruments, or spatter during routine patient care.
How often should spore testing of sterilizers be executed?
Once a week
‘‘The CDC recommends spore testing sterilization equipment on a weekly basis.
Which technique is used to prevent surface contamination?
Apply appropriate surface covers before seating the patient.
‘‘Protective surface covers should be placed before seating the patient to prevent surface contamination. Applying covers after the surfaces become contaminated is a waste of money and time because the contaminated surfaces will have to be precleaned and disinfected when the patient leaves.
Before depositing a contaminated needle in a sharps container, the assistant
recaps it.
‘’ Needles are recapped in a recapping device at chairside, before they are discarded in the sharps container.
The record of each infection control training session does NOT require which detail?
Training test scores
‘‘Test scores are not required in the record of each infection control training session. The detailed record of the training session must include the date of the session, the name of the presenter, and the names of attending employees.
Packaging instruments prior to sterilization
maintains instrument sterility after processing.
‘’ Wrapping or packaging instruments prior to sterilization reduces the risk of post sterilization contamination.
A sharps container is an example of which?
Engineering control
‘’ The sharps container is an example of an engineering control, as opposed to an administrative control, work practice control, or personal protective equipment
Central nervous system disorders, tremors, and kidney dysfunction are associated with increased exposure to
mercury vapors
‘’ Mercury vapors are toxic; long-term daily exposure can result in tremors, kidney dysfunction, depression, and central nervous system disorders. Careful amalgam handling procedures are essential to prevent daily exposure to mercury vapors.
Which statement is NOT true?
Overgloves are acceptable alone, as a hand barrier, in nonsurgical procedures.
‘’ Overgloves are not acceptable alone as a hand barrier in nonsurgical procedures. These gloves are used over the examination gloves when the assistant leaves the room or wants to prevent contamination of an area with the examination gloves.
An employee who voluntarily forgoes the hepatitis B vaccination is required to sign a(n)
informed refusal that is kept on file in the dental office.
‘‘A signed informed refusal is kept on file for any employee who voluntarily declines the HBV vaccination. If an employee initially declines the vaccination but at a later date opts to have the vaccine and is still covered under the standard, the employer must provide the vaccine at no cost to the employee.
The written exposure control plan must be reviewed and updated
annually.
‘’ The written exposure control plan, outlining office compliance with the BBP Standard, must be reviewed and updated annually.
When do you need to change your protective clothing?
When visibly soiled
‘‘Outer protective clothing can protect against contamination. When the outer clothing is obviously contaminated, it should be changed before providing care for another patient.
To be considered acceptable for use in dentistry, a disinfectant must be able to kill
tuberculosis bacteria.
‘‘The tuberculosis (TB) bacterium is the benchmark organism for disinfectants used in dentistry; a disinfectant must be lethal to Mycobacterium tuberculosis to be considered acceptable.
Which agency regulations apply to the handling of waste in the dental office?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
‘’ OSHA regulations apply to the handling of waste in the dental office for the protection of employees. When waste leaves the dental office, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations apply to the disposal
Which are NOT acceptable for use as a surface disinfectant in dentistry?
Glutaraldehydes
‘‘Glutaraldehydes are unacceptable surface disinfectants due to high toxicity and tendencies to discolor and corrode surfaces.
OSHA requires the use of Standard Precautions for
all patients
‘‘OSHA requires Standard Precautions be used for all patients. Therefore, blood and other body fluids from all patients are treated as potentially infectious.
The most important infection control law in dentistry is OSHA’s
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
‘’ OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard is the most important infection control law in dentistry
Regulated medical waste comprises what percentage of a dental office’s total waste?
3%
‘’ Regulated medical waste (infectious waste) makes up 3% or less of the total medical waste produced in a dental office
Without proper eye protection, curing light exposure may damage the
retina.
‘’ Unprotected exposure to the curing light may damage the retina. Both the operator and the patient should wear appropriate eye protection when the curing light is required.
Which is NOT a recognized regulated medical waste?
Used PPE
‘’ Used personal protective equipment is not regulated medical waste. Extracted teeth, sharps, and liquid blood are regulated wastes, which are potentially infectious and require special handling and disposal
Which is true regarding the handling of hazardous infectious waste?
Infectious waste should be placed in closable, leak-proof, labeled containers or bags.
‘’ Following recommended procedures, hazardous infectious waste should be placed in closable, leak-proof containers or bags that are color coded or labeled appropriately.
Which container requires a chemical label?
All secondary containers, including disinfectant spray bottles, ultrasonic cleaner tanks, and x-ray processing tanks require a label to indicate which chemicals they contain and any associated hazards
Which qualifies as a biologic monitor?
Spore testing
‘’: Spore testing qualifies as a biologic monitor, which is used to ensure sterilization has occurred
Examination gloves used for dental treatment can be made of
Either latex or vinyl.
‘’: Dental examination gloves are primarily made of latex or vinyl, not clear plastic
The CDC recommends biological monitoring of sterilization equipment at which interval?
Weekly
‘‘The CDC, ADA, and OSAP, as well as the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, recommend at least weekly spore testing of each sterilizer in the office. Some states also require routine spore testing of dental office sterilizers
Which is a safety measure for managing noncontact scrap amalgam?
Label the scrap amalgam container.
‘‘Noncontact scrap amalgam should be placed in a wide-mouthed container labeled “Noncontact Amalgam Waste for Recycling.” The scrap amalgam container should be tightly sealed and when full, sent to a recycler
OSHA does NOT mandate the training of dental personnel in which area?
Specialty safety standards
‘’ The OSHA standard does not include specialty safety standards as part of dental personnel training; however, training in the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, Hazard Communication Standard, and general safety standards is required.
The intent of handwashing is to remove
transient florae.
‘’ The microorganisms of transient skin florae contaminate the hands during the touching of, or other exposure to, contaminated surfaces. These florae serve as a source of disease spread because they can contain just about any pathogenic microorganism. Transient skin florae can be reduced or removed in some cases by routine handwashing because they remain primarily on the outer layers of the skin.
Dental professionals are to use surgical masks and protective eyewear
whenever spatter and aerosolized sprays of blood and saliva are likely.
‘’ In accordance with OSHA recommendations, surgical masks and protective eyewear are to be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or saliva may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination may occur
Which protects the gingival tissue during laser bleaching?
Resin-based, light-curable barrier
‘’ To protect the soft tissue when laser bleaching, a resin-based, light-curable barrier is placed over the gingiva, as opposed to cotton rolls or a rubber dam.
Which action promotes environmental infection control in a clinical area?
Avoid the use of carpet and cloth-upholstered furnishings.
‘‘Carpet and cloth-upholstered furnishings are difficult to clean and disinfect and should be avoided in dental operatories, laboratories, and instrument-processing areas. Barriers are recommended on the dental unit but should be replaced after every patient, as opposed to twice a day. Isopropyl alcohol is not recommended as a surface disinfectant
Which face mask is optimal for pouring or mixing chemicals?
Mist respirator
‘‘A mist respirator face mask is optimal for pouring or mixing chemicals. Face shields and surgical masks, flat or dome shaped, may not provide adequate inhalation protection.
A chemical spill victim with immediate symptoms of dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting is experiencing
acute chemical toxicity.
‘’ A person with acute chemical toxicity will immediately experience dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting upon acute overexposure to chemicals.
Which is true of latex or vinyl gloves?
Nonsterile gloves are recommended for examinations and nonsurgical procedures.
‘’ Nonsterile gloves are recommended for routine dental care and nonsurgical procedures. Sterile gloves would be used in surgical or invasive procedures. Latex and vinyl gloves are single-use items; they cannot be washed and reused. Hands should be washed before gloving and between patients.
