NBDHE NBDHE Infection Control and Sterilization 3

Question 1

What is the FIRST recommended action following a needlestick or sharps injury in dental practice?

Accepted Answer

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water

Answer

Apply an antiseptic or iodine solution to the wound

Answer

Report the incident immediately to the supervisor

Answer

Apply pressure with sterile gauze to stop bleeding first

Question 2

When reprocessing contaminated dental instruments, which combination of PPE is REQUIRED?

Accepted Answer

Utility gloves, mask, protective eyewear, and gown

Answer

Exam gloves and surgical mask only

Answer

Utility gloves and protective eyewear only

Answer

Standard exam gloves, N95 respirator, and face shield

Question 3

The Spaulding classification system divides patient-care items into how many risk categories?

Accepted Answer

Three (critical, semicritical, noncritical)

Answer

Two (clean and contaminated)

Answer

Four (sterile, high-level disinfected, clean, noncritical)

Answer

Five levels corresponding to disinfection requirements

Question 4

Immediate-use steam sterilization (formerly called 'flash sterilization') should be used:

Accepted Answer

As a last resort for instruments dropped and needed immediately

Answer

Routinely to save time when patient turnover is high

Answer

For heat-sensitive instruments requiring rapid processing

Answer

For implantable devices requiring fast turnaround

Question 5

N95 respirators are indicated over surgical masks when performing:

Accepted Answer

Aerosol-generating procedures on patients with suspected tuberculosis or airborne infections

Answer

All dental procedures that involve contact with saliva

Answer

Routine dental examinations and prophylaxis for all patients

Answer

Surgical extractions and implant procedures only

Question 6

The CDC's recommended approach to managing dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) includes:

Accepted Answer

A combination of flushing, antimicrobial treatment, and periodic water quality monitoring

Answer

Flushing waterlines for 2 minutes at the start of each day as the sole intervention

Answer

Using only sterile water in unit reservoirs and replacing weekly

Answer

Installing UV filters as the single recommended intervention

Question 7

If a biological indicator (spore test) returns a POSITIVE result indicating sterilization failure, the correct immediate response is to:

Accepted Answer

Remove the sterilizer from service and recall all instruments processed since the last negative test

Answer

Continue using the sterilizer while scheduling a repair technician

Answer

Retest with a new biological indicator before taking any action

Answer

Recall only instruments used on immunocompromised or high-risk patients