CH Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of hepatitis virus poses the greatest occupational risk to colonic hydrotherapists due to its stability on environmental surfaces?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis E
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus can survive on dry surfaces for up to 7 days and is highly infectious, posing significant occupational risk.
Question 2: When performing a colonic session, at what point should the therapist perform hand hygiene?
- Only before the session begins
- Only after removing gloves
- Before and after each client contact, after removing gloves, and after touching contaminated surfaces (Correct answer)
- Once at the start and once at the end of the workday
Correct answer: Before and after each client contact, after removing gloves, and after touching contaminated surfaces
The WHO's 'Five Moments for Hand Hygiene' requires hand hygiene at multiple critical points, not just before or after a session.
Question 3: Which EPA registration category should disinfectants used on colonic equipment belong to in order to be effective against bloodborne pathogens?
- Category I hospital-grade disinfectant
- Category II general-purpose cleaner
- EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with tuberculocidal claim (Correct answer)
- Any FDA-approved antimicrobial soap
Correct answer: EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with tuberculocidal claim
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires EPA-registered disinfectants with at least a tuberculocidal claim for surfaces contaminated with blood or OPIM.
Question 4: A client discloses they have Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). What special precaution is required for disinfection?
- Standard quaternary ammonium disinfectants are sufficient
- Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred over soap and water
- Bleach-based (hypochlorite) disinfectants must be used because C. diff spores resist most standard disinfectants (Correct answer)
- UV light disinfection alone is adequate
Correct answer: Bleach-based (hypochlorite) disinfectants must be used because C. diff spores resist most standard disinfectants
C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol and many quaternary ammonium compounds, requiring sporicidal agents like diluted bleach.
Question 5: What is the correct sequence for donning (putting on) PPE before a colonic session?
- Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
- Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
- Eye protection, gloves, gown, mask
Correct answer: Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
The CDC recommends donning PPE in the order: gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, and gloves last to protect all other PPE.
Question 6: Which water quality standard is most critical for the fill water used in colonic hydrotherapy equipment?
- Water must be distilled and deionized
- Water must meet or exceed EPA drinking water standards and be free of bacterial contamination (Correct answer)
- Water must be sourced from a natural spring
- Water only needs to be filtered through a standard household filter
Correct answer: Water must meet or exceed EPA drinking water standards and be free of bacterial contamination
Fill water for colonic equipment must meet EPA potable water standards to prevent introducing pathogens directly into the client's colon.
Question 7: A sharps container used in a colonic therapy practice should be replaced when it is:
- Completely full to the brim
- Three-quarters full (Correct answer)
- Half full
- At the end of each workday regardless of fill level
Correct answer: Three-quarters full
Sharps containers should be closed and disposed of when they reach the fill line, typically three-quarters full, to prevent needlestick injuries during disposal.
CH Safety & Infection Control 2
Which type of hepatitis virus poses the greatest occupational risk to colonic hydrotherapists due to its stability on environmental surfaces?