NBDHE NBDHE Infection Control and Sterilization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How frequently does the CDC recommend biological (spore) monitoring of dental sterilizers?
- After every sterilization cycle
- Weekly (Correct answer)
- Monthly
- Annually or only when problems are suspected
Correct answer: Weekly
The CDC recommends weekly biological monitoring of sterilizers using spore tests to verify ongoing sterilization effectiveness.
Question 2: In what order should personal protective equipment (PPE) be DONNED in the dental setting?
- Gloves, mask, protective eyewear, gown
- Gown, mask, protective eyewear, gloves (Correct answer)
- Mask, gown, gloves, protective eyewear
- Protective eyewear, gown, gloves, mask
Correct answer: Gown, mask, protective eyewear, gloves
PPE is donned in the order: gown first, then mask, protective eyewear, and gloves last to maintain barrier integrity.
Question 3: Which sterilization method is MOST appropriate for heat-sensitive and moisture-sensitive dental instruments?
- Steam autoclave at 132°C
- Dry heat oven at 160°C
- Chemical vapor (chemiclave)
- Ethylene oxide gas sterilization (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide gas sterilization
Ethylene oxide gas sterilization operates at low temperatures without moisture, making it suitable for instruments that cannot tolerate heat or steam.
Question 4: What is the PURPOSE of an external chemical indicator (Type 1 process indicator) placed on a sterilization package?
- Verifies that all microorganisms have been killed
- Confirms that the package was exposed to the sterilization process (Correct answer)
- Measures the exact temperature reached inside the package
- Indicates when the sterile package will expire
Correct answer: Confirms that the package was exposed to the sterilization process
External chemical indicators confirm only that a package was exposed to the sterilization process, not that sterility was actually achieved.
Question 5: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is MOST notable for which environmental characteristic?
- It survives on dry surfaces for only 2-3 hours
- It cannot survive outside a living host
- It can remain viable on dry environmental surfaces for at least 7 days (Correct answer)
- It survives only in moist blood-soaked materials
Correct answer: It can remain viable on dry environmental surfaces for at least 7 days
HBV can remain viable on dry environmental surfaces for at least 7 days, demonstrating exceptional environmental stability compared to other bloodborne pathogens.
Question 6: Which type of sterilization monitoring provides the HIGHEST level of assurance that sterilization was achieved?
- Mechanical indicators such as gauges and printouts
- Chemical indicators (Types 1-6)
- Biological indicators using resistant bacterial spores (Correct answer)
- Visual inspection of packaging integrity
Correct answer: Biological indicators using resistant bacterial spores
Biological indicators using resistant bacterial spores (e.g., Geobacillus stearothermophilus) provide the highest assurance by directly testing the lethality of the sterilization process.
Question 7: According to OSHA, contaminated sharps must be disposed of in:
- Double-bagged red biohazard trash bags
- Puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers labeled with the biohazard symbol (Correct answer)
- Sealed rigid plastic containers filled with bleach solution
- Standard medical waste bags with a sharps-only label
Correct answer: Puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers labeled with the biohazard symbol
OSHA requires contaminated sharps to be placed immediately in closable, puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers labeled with the biohazard symbol or color-coded red.
NBDHE NBDHE Infection Control and Sterilization 2
How frequently does the CDC recommend biological (spore) monitoring of dental sterilizers?