CPT Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When grinding or sanding prosthetic components, which PPE is MOST critical to prevent respiratory harm?
- Safety goggles
- N95 respirator or dust mask (Correct answer)
- Nitrile gloves
- Hearing protection
Correct answer: N95 respirator or dust mask
Grinding generates fine particulate dust that can cause respiratory damage, making an N95 respirator the most critical protective equipment.
Question 2: A prosthetic technician notices a crack in their nitrile glove mid-procedure. What is the correct action?
- Continue working and change gloves at the end of the task
- Double-glove over the cracked glove immediately
- Stop, remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, and don new gloves (Correct answer)
- Apply tape over the crack to seal it
Correct answer: Stop, remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, and don new gloves
A compromised glove barrier must be replaced immediately; the technician must remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and don a new pair.
Question 3: Which disinfectant concentration of isopropyl alcohol is most effective for surface decontamination in a prosthetics lab?
- 50%
- 70% (Correct answer)
- 90%
- 100%
Correct answer: 70%
70% isopropyl alcohol is the most effective concentration because some water is needed to facilitate protein denaturation in microorganisms.
Question 4: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires employers to offer which vaccination to exposed workers at no cost?
- Influenza
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
OSHA mandates that employers offer the Hepatitis B vaccine series free of charge to workers with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Question 5: After trimming a patient's residual limb cast, the workspace is contaminated with skin cells and debris. The FIRST step is to:
- Disinfect the surface with EPA-registered disinfectant
- Remove gross debris with a disposable cloth, then disinfect (Correct answer)
- Sweep debris into a trash bin and move on
- Spray bleach solution directly onto the debris
Correct answer: Remove gross debris with a disposable cloth, then disinfect
Gross debris must be removed before disinfection because organic material can inactivate disinfectants and prevent effective kill.
Question 6: Which class of fire extinguisher should be used for an electrical fire in a prosthetics fabrication lab?
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C (Correct answer)
- Class D
Correct answer: Class C
Class C extinguishers are designed for energized electrical equipment fires because they use non-conductive extinguishing agents.
Question 7: When autoclaving metal fabrication tools, the minimum standard sterilization cycle for a gravity displacement autoclave is typically:
- 121°C for 15 minutes at 15 psi (Correct answer)
- 134°C for 5 minutes at 30 psi
- 100°C for 30 minutes at 10 psi
- 115°C for 20 minutes at 10 psi
Correct answer: 121°C for 15 minutes at 15 psi
The standard gravity displacement autoclave cycle is 121°C (250°F) for a minimum of 15 minutes at 15 psi to achieve sterilization.
CPT Safety & Infection Control 2
When grinding or sanding prosthetic components, which PPE is MOST critical to prevent respiratory harm?