Question 1

The destruction of microorganisms by inactivation of essential cellular proteins or enzymes through coagulation is achieved by which method of sterilization?&#10;A) Cold sterilants&#10;B) Dry heat sterilization&#10;C) Moist heat: steam under pressure&#10;D) Chemical vapor sterilization

Accepted Answer

Moist heat: steam under pressure (also known as autoclaving) is the most effective method of sterilization as it can penetrate materials and destroy microorganisms by coagulating proteins and denaturing enzymes. Cold sterilants, dry heat sterilization, and chemical vapor sterilization are less effective methods of sterilization.

Question 2

What is the appropriate action for a patient who is a carrier of hepatitis B?&#10;A) You must double glove.&#10;B) Inform everyone in the dental office.&#10;C) Treat the patient as you would anyone else.&#10;D) Ask the other hygienist to switch patients with you.

Accepted Answer

Patients who are carriers of hepatitis B should be treated as anyone else, using standard infection control procedures. Double gloving and informing everyone in the office may be unnecessary if standard procedures are already being followed. Switching patients with another hygienist is not necessary if proper infection control measures are being taken.

Question 3

Which type of gloves used in the dental office are nonsterile and made of latex,vinyl,nitrile,or chloroprene?&#10;A) Overgloves&#10;B) Examination gloves&#10;C) Surgeon's gloves&#10;D) Heavy-duty utility gloves

Accepted Answer

Examination gloves are nonsterile and commonly used in dental offices. They can be made of latex, vinyl, nitrile, or chloroprene. Overgloves are worn over the examination gloves for infection control purposes. Surgeon's gloves are sterile and used during surgical procedures. Heavy-duty utility gloves are not typically used in dental offices.

Question 4

The only autoclave in the office has a failed biological monitoring test.The company that is responsible for processing the test called to report the failure.You should&#10;A) Cold sterilize your instruments until the unit is repaired&#10;B) Retest the autoclave and continue to use it until the second test results are available&#10;C) Call the repair company,inform them that you need the autoclave repaired,and ask them for another autoclave on loan&#10;D) Continue to place chemical indicators in each package and use the autoclave until it is repaired

Accepted Answer

The best choice would be to call the repair company, inform them that the autoclave needs to be repaired, and ask for another autoclave on loan. This would ensure that the office has a functioning autoclave for sterilization purposes while the original one is being repaired. Cold sterilization or using chemical indicators alone is not sufficient for proper sterilization. Retesting the failed autoclave is also not recommended as it may still be defective and cause inadequate sterilization.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a safe practice for cleaning contaminated instruments?&#10;A) Gripping a scrub brush firmly in the palm of the hand&#10;B) Placing instruments in an ultrasonic unit&#10;C) Placing instruments in an instrument washer&#10;D) Using a long-handled brush

Accepted Answer

Gripping a scrub brush firmly in the palm of the hand is not a safe practice for cleaning contaminated instruments because it increases the risk of accidental injury to the handler. The best practices for cleaning contaminated instruments include using personal protective equipment, such as gloves and eye protection, using appropriate cleaning tools, such as long-handled brushes or ultrasonic units, and following the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and sterilization.

Question 6

Which stage of a disease is referred to as the communicable stage?&#10;A) Prodomal stage&#10;B) Convalescent stage&#10;C) Decline stage&#10;D) Latent period

Accepted Answer

The communicable stage is the stage of a disease where the infected individual is able to transmit the disease to others. This stage typically occurs after the incubation period and during the prodromal stage. Therefore, choice A (prodomal stage) is the correct answer.

Question 7

The receptionist informs you that your last patient tomorrow has just been diagnosed with a latex allergy and is concerned about her dental hygiene appointment.What should the patient be told?&#10;A) Tell the patient that there is no problem.You will wear plastic overgloves instead of latex gloves.&#10;B) Tell the patient that you will wear nitrile examination gloves and ask the receptionist to reschedule the appointment to an early morning appointment.&#10;C) Tell the patient that she will be referred to a hospital dental clinic that is better equipped to handle latex allergies.&#10;D) Ask the patient to bring latex-free examination gloves to the appointment.

Accepted Answer

As the patient has a latex allergy, it is important to avoid using any latex gloves during the appointment. Nitrile gloves are a good alternative to latex and can be used instead. However, rescheduling the appointment to an early morning time slot may be helpful in minimizing the patient's exposure to latex in the office. This option ensures the patient's safety while still providing dental care.

Question 8

What is the primary difference between regulated and nonregulated waste?&#10;A) The amount of time the item is in direct patient contact&#10;B) The designation of an item as disposable&#10;C) The procedure for which the item was used&#10;D) The amount of liquid blood or other potentially infectious body fluid present

Accepted Answer

The primary difference between regulated and nonregulated waste is the amount of liquid blood or other potentially infectious body fluid present. Regulated waste contains liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious material, while nonregulated waste does not.

Question 9

You just treated a patient who is HIV positive.How should you handle the instruments and cassette after use?&#10;A) Follow routine instrument processing steps.&#10;B) Sterilize the instruments with a chemical sterilant first,rinse them,place them back in the cassette,and then follow routine instrument processing steps.&#10;C) Immediately heat-sterilize the instruments and then follow the routine instrument processing steps.&#10;D) Put the instrument cassette through the routine processing steps twice.

Accepted Answer

Routine instrument processing steps are sufficient for handling instruments used on HIV positive patients, as long as they are followed properly to ensure decontamination and sterilization. Chemical or heat sterilization may be required for certain specific instruments or circumstances, but it is not necessary for routine use. Double-processing the instrument cassette is also unnecessary and may risk damaging the instruments.

Question 10

Which human herpes virus (HHV)is the Epstein-Barr virus and what does it cause?&#10;A) HHV 1,herpes labialis&#10;B) HHV 2,genital herpes&#10;C) HHV 3,chicken pox and shingles&#10;D) HHV 4,infectious mononucleosis

Accepted Answer

HHV-4 is the Epstein-Barr virus, and it causes infectious mononucleosis.

Deck 7: Exposure and Infection Control