CDC Infection Control & Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which CDC transmission-based precaution category is MOST relevant when treating a dental patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis?
- Contact precautions
- Droplet precautions
- Airborne precautions (Correct answer)
- Standard precautions only
Correct answer: Airborne precautions
Active pulmonary TB is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring airborne precautions including N95 respirators and negative-pressure rooms.
Question 2: According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, hepatitis B vaccination must be offered to dental employees within how many days of hire?
- 10 days (Correct answer)
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 10 days
OSHA requires employers to offer hepatitis B vaccination to occupationally exposed employees within 10 working days of initial assignment.
Question 3: What is the minimum temperature required for steam autoclave sterilization at 15 psi pressure?
- 250°F (121°C) (Correct answer)
- 270°F (132°C)
- 212°F (100°C)
- 300°F (149°C)
Correct answer: 250°F (121°C)
Standard gravity displacement steam sterilization at 15 psi requires a minimum temperature of 121°C (250°F).
Question 4: A dental worker sustains a needlestick from a patient of unknown HIV status. What is the FIRST priority action?
- Immediately start post-exposure prophylaxis
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Document the incident in the exposure log
- Contact the patient to request HIV testing
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
The immediate first step is to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water to reduce pathogen load before any other intervention.
Question 5: Which EPA registration category indicates a chemical disinfectant is effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can be used as an intermediate-level disinfectant in dentistry?
- Sanitizer
- Tuberculocidal (Correct answer)
- Sporicidal
- Fungicidal
Correct answer: Tuberculocidal
Tuberculocidal disinfectants are classified as intermediate-level agents and are appropriate for semi-critical dental surfaces.
Question 6: Single-use disposable items in a dental operatory are classified as which type of medical device under the Spaulding classification?
- Critical
- Semi-critical
- Non-critical
- Depends on intended use (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Depends on intended use
The Spaulding classification of a disposable item depends on whether it contacts sterile tissue, mucous membranes, or only intact skin.
Question 7: What does a biological indicator (BI) containing Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores specifically validate in dental sterilization?
- Dry heat oven performance
- Steam autoclave performance (Correct answer)
- Chemical vapor sterilizer performance
- Ethylene oxide sterilizer performance
Correct answer: Steam autoclave performance
G. stearothermophilus spores are the standard biological indicator for steam autoclave (gravity and pre-vacuum) sterilization validation.
CDC Infection Control & Prevention 2
Which CDC transmission-based precaution category is MOST relevant when treating a dental patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis?