COM Infection Control & Prevention 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hand hygiene method is considered most effective for routine decontamination when hands are not visibly soiled?
- Soap and water for 10 seconds
- Alcohol-based hand rub (Correct answer)
- Antimicrobial soap and water for 60 seconds
- Chlorhexidine scrub
Correct answer: Alcohol-based hand rub
Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred by CDC for routine hand hygiene when hands are not visibly soiled because they are more effective against most pathogens and faster to use.
Question 2: In orofacial myology, tongue depressors and disposable mouth mirrors are classified as which type of medical item?
- Critical items
- Semi-critical items (Correct answer)
- Non-critical items
- Regulated medical waste
Correct answer: Semi-critical items
Items that contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate tissue are classified as semi-critical and require at minimum high-level disinfection or single-use disposal.
Question 3: Which OSHA standard specifically regulates occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in healthcare settings?
- 29 CFR 1910.132
- 29 CFR 1910.1030 (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1910.134
- 29 CFR 1926.50
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.1030
29 CFR 1910.1030 is the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that mandates exposure control plans, PPE use, and post-exposure protocols.
Question 4: What does the term 'chain of infection' refer to in infection control?
- A series of handwashing steps required after patient contact
- The sequence of elements required for an infectious disease to spread from one host to another (Correct answer)
- The hierarchy of disinfection levels from low to high
- A checklist for sterilization cycle verification
Correct answer: The sequence of elements required for an infectious disease to spread from one host to another
The chain of infection describes the six links—infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host—that must all be present for disease transmission.
Question 5: Surface disinfectants used in clinical settings must be registered with which U.S. regulatory agency?
- FDA
- CDC
- EPA (Correct answer)
- OSHA
Correct answer: EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers disinfectants used on environmental surfaces in healthcare settings, while the FDA regulates antiseptics used on skin.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of administrative infection control in a myofunctional therapy practice?
- Installing HEPA air filtration units
- Requiring staff vaccination for hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Using EPA-registered disinfectants on surfaces
- Wearing N95 respirators during aerosol-generating procedures
Correct answer: Requiring staff vaccination for hepatitis B
Administrative controls include policies and procedures such as staff vaccination requirements, scheduling, and training programs that reduce exposure risk.
Question 7: After removing contaminated gloves, what is the next required step before touching clean surfaces?
- Apply a new pair of gloves immediately
- Perform hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Use a disinfectant wipe on hands
- Document the procedure
Correct answer: Perform hand hygiene
Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after removing gloves because gloves can have microscopic defects and contamination can occur during removal.
COM Infection Control & Prevention 3
Which hand hygiene method is considered most effective for routine decontamination when hands are not visibly soiled?