UNIT 3: Disinfection and Reprocessing Quiz

Question 1

The major advantage of the chemical vapor sterilizer is that:

Answer 1

it does not rust, dull, or corrode dry metal instruments.

Question 2

The protocol to follow to minimize contamination of touch and transfer surfaces from splash, spatter, and surface droplets is to:

Answer 2

Touch and transfer surfaces should be protected with barriers to prevent them from becoming contaminated from splash, spatter, and surface droplets.

Question 3

An ultrasonic cleaner cleans dirty instruments using sound waves, which causes:

Answer 3

The sound waves produced by the ultrasonic cleaner cause cavitation (bubble formation), and the bubbles burst by implosion (bursting inward).

Question 4

The use of barriers on surfaces and equipment can prevent contamination of contact areas. The correct protocol for their use would include:

Answer 4

removing and discarding with gloved hands, and replacing using clean gloves between patients.

Question 5

All of the following surfaces should be protected from contamination with barriers except:

Answer 5

counter tops in the reception area

Question 6

Recommendations for mixing solutions of detergents or disinfectants include:

Question 7

All of the following will cause a sterilization failure except:

Answer 7

using correct packaging material.

Question 8

All of the following statements concerning liquid chemical sterilants are true except they:

Answer 8

can be disposed of by pouring them down the sink.

Question 9

A method for sterilizing unwrapped patient care items for immediate use is:

Answer 9

flash sterilization

Question 10

Some ultrasonic cleaning solutions have:

Answer 10

enzymatic activity.

Question 11

Which of the following can be used as a surface disinfectant in the dentistry?

Answer 11

Synthetic phenols

Question 12

Instrument processing should flow in a single loop from dirty, to _______, to storage.

Answer 12

clean, to sterile

Question 13

Sterilization destroys:

Answer 13

all microbial forms, including bacterial spores.

Question 14

Process indicators that change color are useful for:

Answer 14

identifying instrument packs that have been exposed to a certain temperature.

Question 15

One of the disadvantages of flash sterilization is the:

Answer 15

inability to wrap items.

Question 16

Which of the following is true regarding the use of spore testing to monitor sterilization?

Answer 16

A positive culture indicates a sterilization failure has occurred

Question 17

“Green” infection control protocols can be implemented in all of the following except:

Answer 17

traditional film-based radiography.

Question 18

The appropriate disinfection protocol to follow when a surface has been covered with a barrier is:

Answer 18

clean and disinfect the surface at the beginning and end of each workday.

Question 19

Recommended methods for sterilizing dental handpieces include:

Answer 19

steam or chemical vapor sterilization

Question 20

The purpose of an instrument holding solution is to:

Answer 20

prevent the drying of blood and debris on instruments.

Question 21

Some microorganisms may survive on outside the host on environmental surfaces. The organism of concern to dentistry that can survive for weeks outside the host is:

Answer 21

Tuberculosis.

Question 22

A process indicator is placed:

Answer 22

outside of the instrument package.

Question 23

Each of the following is an appropriate precaution when using glutaraldehyde except one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

Question 24

The label on a chemical agent contains all of the following except:

Answer 24

the manufacturer suggested retail price.

Question 25

If the surface below the barrier is inadvertently touched when removing a contaminated barrier, the protocol to follow indicates:

Answer 25

the surface needs to be cleaned and disinfected.

Question 26

Microorganisms in a steam sterilizer are killed by:

Answer 26

heat

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true regarding the seven steps for instrument processing?

Answer 27

Sterilization takes places prior to storage. | Squence: transport, cleaning, packaging, sterilization, storage.

Question 28

Personal protective equipment (PPE) that must always be used when processing instruments includes:

Answer 28

utility gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing.

Question 29

Dried blood remaining on dental instruments following a treatment procedure is due to improper:

Answer 29

cleaning of dental instruments.

Question 30

When transporting and processing contaminated patient care items, precautions need to be taken to avoid personal exposure to microorganisms by:

Answer 30

minimizing handling of loose contaminated instruments during transport to the instrument-processing areas.

Question 31

Biologic monitoring is also known as ________ testing

Answer 31

spore

Question 32

Carpet in dental treatment areas:

Answer 32

harbors both bacteria and fungi.

Question 33

Which of the following patient care items is classified as a semicritical instrument?

Answer 33

Amalgam carriers | ** read up about this

Question 34

What is the major advantage of forced air sterilizers over the other types of sterilizers?

Answer 34

rapid sterilization

Question 35

The ultrasonic cleaner should be tested by:

Answer 35

submersing a piece of aluminum foil for 20 seconds while the machine is functioning.

Question 36

A product capable of killing spores is:

Answer 36

a sporicidal.

Question 37

All reusable instruments (critical and semicritical) that contact the patient’s blood, saliva, or mucous membranes must be:

Answer 37

heat sterilized

Question 38

Which is used to kill disease-causing microorganisms that remain on the surface after precleaning?

Answer 38

antimicrobial

Question 39

The ideal instrument-processing area should be:

Answer 39

dedicated only to instrument processing.

Question 40

The best method to remove debris from the head of the handpiece is to:

Answer 40

flush the handpiece for 10 to 20 seconds.

Question 41

To avoid contamination in a dental treatment area, the best approach is to:

Answer 41

assume all surfaces have been contaminated.

Question 42

Which of the following is the best method used to protect a surface in a dental treatment area with crevices, knobs, or other difficult-to-clean features?

Answer 42

Use a surface barrier to prevent the surface from becoming contaminated.

Question 43

Clinical contact surfaces that have been contaminated with blood should be cleaned and disinfected with:

Answer 43

low to intermediate-level disinfectant. (intermediate if visibly soiled with blood)

Question 44

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered intermediate-level or low-level disinfectant is suitable for cleaning ____________ instruments.

Answer 44

noncritical

Question 45

Housekeeping surfaces:

Answer 45

need to be cleaned with only a detergent or low-level disinfectant.

Question 46

Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or touch bone are termed _________ instruments.

Answer 46

critical

Question 47

Drying instruments to prevent rusting is essential when processing in:

Answer 47

chemical vapor.

Question 48

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is:

Answer 48

dry heat sterilization

Question 49

Methods of preventing rust from forming on an instrument during the sterilization process include:

Answer 49

completely drying the instrument.