DANB DANB Patient Medical History & Infection Risk Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which patient population requires special consideration in dental infection control due to increased susceptibility to infection?
- Patients with dental anxiety
- Immunocompromised patients (transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy) (Correct answer)
- Elderly patients over 70
- Patients with dental implants
Correct answer: Immunocompromised patients (transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy)
Immunocompromised patients are at significantly higher risk of infection from even routine dental procedures, requiring careful assessment, possible antibiotic prophylaxis, and meticulous infection control.
Question 2: A dental team member has an active respiratory illness with fever. The appropriate action is:
- Wear a mask and continue treating patients
- Stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication (Correct answer)
- Treat only scheduled patients, then go home
- Wear double masks and a face shield
Correct answer: Stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
Dental workers with active respiratory illness and fever should stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without antipyretics to prevent transmitting illness to patients and colleagues.
Question 3: What is the term used for infections acquired in a healthcare setting (including dental offices)?
- Bloodborne infections
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) (Correct answer)
- Community-acquired infections
- Latent infections
Correct answer: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving healthcare in any setting, including dental offices, that were not present before care began.
Question 4: A patient discloses they are currently undergoing chemotherapy. How does this affect dental infection control planning?
- No changes needed; treat with standard precautions only
- Consider immunosuppression, need for antibiotic prophylaxis, and heightened risk of HAIs; coordinate with oncologist if needed (Correct answer)
- Refuse treatment until chemotherapy is complete
- Treat only for dental emergencies and nothing else
Correct answer: Consider immunosuppression, need for antibiotic prophylaxis, and heightened risk of HAIs; coordinate with oncologist if needed
Chemotherapy causes immunosuppression, which increases HAI risk; consultation with the oncologist may be needed to determine if antibiotic prophylaxis is required and to time procedures appropriately.
Question 5: Which of the following is classified as a 'droplet precaution' situation relevant to dental settings?
- Patients with HIV
- Patients with influenza or other respiratory pathogens transmitted by respiratory droplets (Correct answer)
- Patients with hepatitis C
- Patients with herpes zoster involving the leg
Correct answer: Patients with influenza or other respiratory pathogens transmitted by respiratory droplets
Influenza and other respiratory illnesses transmitted by large respiratory droplets require droplet precautions (surgical mask, potential deferral of elective care) in dental settings.
Question 6: What does the concept of 'chain of infection' teach dental infection control professionals?
- All infections come from the dental water supply
- Breaking any link in the chain (source, transmission, susceptible host) can prevent infection (Correct answer)
- Only direct contact transmits infection in dental settings
- Infection prevention is only possible with vaccines
Correct answer: Breaking any link in the chain (source, transmission, susceptible host) can prevent infection
The chain of infection model shows that interrupting any single link — such as the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, or susceptible host — can prevent infection from occurring.
DANB DANB Patient Medical History & Infection Risk Assessment 2
Which patient population requires special consideration in dental infection control due to increased susceptibility to infection?