ADEX Dental Hygiene Infection Control and Safety Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental hygienist sustains a percutaneous injury with a contaminated scaler immediately after treating a patient. According to CDC guidelines, what is the IMMEDIATE first step the hygienist should take?
- Seek post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from a designated medical provider.
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. (Correct answer)
- Report the incident to the office's infection control coordinator.
- Gently squeeze the wound to express any potential contaminants.
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
The CDC's immediate first aid recommendation for a percutaneous injury is to wash the wound with soap and water. Reporting the incident and seeking a medical evaluation for potential PEP are critical subsequent steps, but the very first action is local wound care. Squeezing the wound is not recommended as it may cause additional tissue trauma.
Question 2: Which of the following is considered the most definitive or 'gold standard' method for verifying the effectiveness of a sterilization cycle?
- Biological indicators (spore tests) (Correct answer)
- Internal chemical indicators placed inside each package
- External chemical indicators on the outside of each package
- Mechanical monitoring of time, temperature, and pressure gauges
Correct answer: Biological indicators (spore tests)
Biological indicators (spore tests) are the highest standard for sterilization monitoring because they directly challenge the sterilizer's ability to kill highly resistant microorganisms, such as Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores. A negative result confirms the sterilization process was lethal. Chemical and mechanical monitoring only indicate that certain physical conditions were met but do not directly prove microbial death.
Question 3: An environmental surface disinfectant is classified by the EPA as intermediate-level. Which of the following properties is required for this classification?
- It must be sporicidal.
- It must be safe for use on all dental materials without causing damage.
- It must be effective against non-enveloped viruses only.
- It must have a tuberculocidal claim. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It must have a tuberculocidal claim.
The benchmark for an EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant is its ability to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This tuberculocidal claim indicates the disinfectant is potent enough for surfaces contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials. High-level disinfectants are sporicidal.
Question 4: A dental hygienist is preparing to perform a procedure that is expected to generate significant aerosols. According to CDC guidelines for standard precautions, what is the correct sequence for donning (putting on) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
- Mask, Gown, Eyewear, Gloves
- Gown, Mask, Eyewear, Gloves (Correct answer)
- Gloves, Gown, Mask, Eyewear
- Eyewear, Gown, Mask, Gloves
Correct answer: Gown, Mask, Eyewear, Gloves
The CDC recommends a specific sequence for donning PPE to minimize self-contamination. The correct order is gown first, then mask or respirator, followed by goggles or face shield, and finally gloves. This sequence generally moves from the body upwards, with gloves being applied last.
Question 5: According to the CDC, what is the maximum acceptable level of heterotrophic bacteria, measured in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), for routine dental treatment water?
- 100 CFU/mL
- 200 CFU/mL
- 500 CFU/mL (Correct answer)
- 1000 CFU/mL
Correct answer: 500 CFU/mL
The CDC states that for routine, non-surgical dental procedures, the water used should meet the EPA's regulatory standard for safe drinking water, which is ≤500 CFU/mL of heterotrophic bacteria.
Question 6: Which of the following items used during a dental hygiene appointment MUST be disposed of in a designated sharps container, even if it is intact?
- A used local anesthetic cartridge (Correct answer)
- A saliva-soaked 2x2 gauze pad
- A used disposable plastic air/water syringe tip
- An extracted tooth without an amalgam restoration
Correct answer: A used local anesthetic cartridge
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard defines sharps as any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin, which includes contaminated broken glass. Since glass anesthetic cartridges can break during use or disposal, they pose a puncture hazard and must be placed in the sharps container, even if they appear intact.
ADEX Dental Hygiene Infection Control and Safety Questions and Answers
A dental hygienist sustains a percutaneous injury with a contaminated scaler immediately after treating a patient.
According to CDC guidelines, what is the IMMEDIATE first step the hygienist should take?