Dental Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often should a dental sterilizer be tested with a biological (spore) indicator at minimum?
- Weekly (Correct answer)
- Monthly
- Annually
- Every six months
Correct answer: Weekly
The CDC recommends spore testing dental sterilizers at least weekly.
Question 2: What should be done immediately after a sharps injury exposes a dental worker to a patient's blood?
- Wash the wound with soap and water and report it (Correct answer)
- Apply bleach directly to the wound
- Squeeze the wound vigorously for five minutes
- Ignore it if the patient appears healthy
Correct answer: Wash the wound with soap and water and report it
The wound should be washed with soap and water and the exposure reported for evaluation per the protocol.
Question 3: Which method is preferred for cleaning instruments before sterilization to reduce sharps injury risk?
- An ultrasonic cleaner or instrument washer (Correct answer)
- Hand scrubbing each instrument individually
- Wiping with a dry paper towel
- Soaking in plain tap water only
Correct answer: An ultrasonic cleaner or instrument washer
Automated cleaning like ultrasonic units reduces handling of contaminated sharps and improves cleaning.
Question 4: What is the correct way to recap a needle when recapping is necessary?
- Use a one-handed scoop technique or a recapping device (Correct answer)
- Hold the cap in the other hand and push the needle in
- Recap with both hands quickly
- Bend the needle before recapping
Correct answer: Use a one-handed scoop technique or a recapping device
A one-handed scoop technique or mechanical device prevents accidental sticks during recapping.
Question 5: Which waterline contaminant is a primary concern in dental unit water that requires regular treatment?
- Biofilm harboring bacteria such as Legionella (Correct answer)
- Excess fluoride
- Calcium scale only
- Dissolved oxygen
Correct answer: Biofilm harboring bacteria such as Legionella
Biofilm in dental unit waterlines can harbor pathogens like Legionella, requiring routine treatment and monitoring.
Question 6: What CFU/mL standard does the CDC recommend for dental unit water used in non-surgical procedures?
- Less than or equal to 500 CFU/mL (Correct answer)
- Less than 50,000 CFU/mL
- No standard exists
- Exactly 1,000 CFU/mL
Correct answer: Less than or equal to 500 CFU/mL
Dental unit water for routine procedures should meet the drinking water standard of ≤500 CFU/mL.
Question 7: Why must sterile saline or sterile water be used as a coolant during oral surgical procedures?
- Regular dental unit water may contain microorganisms unsafe for surgical wounds (Correct answer)
- It tastes better to the patient
- It is cheaper than tap water
- It cools instruments faster
Correct answer: Regular dental unit water may contain microorganisms unsafe for surgical wounds
Surgical procedures expose bone and tissue, so only sterile irrigants should contact the wound.
Dental Infection Control 3
How often should a dental sterilizer be tested with a biological (spore) indicator at minimum?