DANB DANB Hand Hygiene & Surface Disinfection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum recommended duration for routine handwashing with soap and water in a dental setting?
- 10 seconds
- 15 seconds
- 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 30 seconds
Correct answer: 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to effectively remove pathogens.
Question 2: Which hand hygiene method is preferred when hands are visibly soiled with blood or organic material?
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Soap and water (Correct answer)
- Antimicrobial hand gel
- Surgical hand scrub
Correct answer: Soap and water
When hands are visibly soiled, soap and water must be used because alcohol-based rubs are not effective against visible contamination.
Question 3: What EPA registration level must a surface disinfectant have to be used on clinical contact surfaces in a dental office?
- Hospital-grade disinfectant (Correct answer)
- Household-grade disinfectant
- Industrial-grade disinfectant
- Food-safe disinfectant
Correct answer: Hospital-grade disinfectant
Clinical contact surfaces in dental offices require EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants to ensure adequate pathogen elimination.
Question 4: How should dental personnel perform hand hygiene after removing gloves?
- Only if gloves were torn
- Hand hygiene is not needed after glove removal
- Immediately perform hand hygiene after glove removal (Correct answer)
- Only if touching a patient
Correct answer: Immediately perform hand hygiene after glove removal
Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after glove removal because gloves can harbor pathogens and have microscopic perforations.
Question 5: What is the correct sequence for applying and removing personal protective equipment in relation to hand hygiene?
- PPE on → patient care → PPE off → hand hygiene
- Hand hygiene → PPE on → patient care → PPE off → hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- PPE on → hand hygiene → patient care → hand hygiene → PPE off
- Hand hygiene → PPE on → patient care → hand hygiene → PPE off
Correct answer: Hand hygiene → PPE on → patient care → PPE off → hand hygiene
The correct sequence is to perform hand hygiene before donning PPE, complete patient care, remove PPE, then perform hand hygiene again.
Question 6: Which surfaces are classified as 'clinical contact surfaces' requiring disinfection between patients?
- Waiting room chairs only
- Walls and ceilings near the dental chair
- Light handles, bracket trays, and chair controls (Correct answer)
- Reception desk and door handles
Correct answer: Light handles, bracket trays, and chair controls
Clinical contact surfaces include items touched during patient care such as light handles, bracket trays, and chair controls that may become contaminated with pathogens.
DANB DANB Hand Hygiene & Surface Disinfection 1
What is the minimum recommended duration for routine handwashing with soap and water in a dental setting?