PMU Sterilization & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard require PMU practitioners to have access to?
- A UV sterilization cabinet
- Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to the employee (Correct answer)
- A dedicated sharps disposal company contract
- Monthly blood testing for all bloodborne pathogens
Correct answer: Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to the employee
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard mandates that employers offer Hepatitis B vaccination to all employees with occupational exposure at no cost.
Question 2: Which concentration of isopropyl alcohol is most effective for skin antisepsis before a PMU procedure?
- 40%
- 60%
- 70% (Correct answer)
- 99%
Correct answer: 70%
70% isopropyl alcohol is the most effective concentration for skin antisepsis because the water content improves bacterial cell penetration and kill rate.
Question 3: What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?
- Sterilization kills bacteria only; disinfection kills all microorganisms
- Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores; disinfection reduces but may not eliminate all pathogens (Correct answer)
- Sterilization is for tools; disinfection is for skin only
- There is no practical difference in a PMU setting
Correct answer: Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores; disinfection reduces but may not eliminate all pathogens
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life including spores, while disinfection reduces pathogens to a safe level but may not eliminate all spores.
Question 4: How should a PMU practitioner handle a needlestick injury during a procedure?
- Continue the procedure and clean the wound after
- Stop immediately, remove gloves, wash the wound with soap and water, and report the incident (Correct answer)
- Apply hand sanitizer and continue with new gloves
- Squeeze the wound to express blood and apply an antiseptic wipe
Correct answer: Stop immediately, remove gloves, wash the wound with soap and water, and report the incident
A needlestick requires immediately stopping work, removing gloves, washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and reporting it per exposure control protocol.
Question 5: Which type of microorganism is most resistant to destruction and requires sterilization rather than disinfection?
- Gram-negative bacteria
- Bacterial spores (Correct answer)
- Non-enveloped viruses
- Yeast
Correct answer: Bacterial spores
Bacterial spores are the most resistant form of microbial life and require sterilization (e.g., autoclaving) since standard disinfectants cannot destroy them.
Question 6: What is the recommended contact time for an EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant on non-porous PMU surfaces?
- 30 seconds
- The time specified on the product label (Correct answer)
- 5 minutes always
- Until the surface is visibly dry
Correct answer: The time specified on the product label
Always follow the manufacturer's label instructions for contact time, as different EPA-registered disinfectants have varying required dwell times for efficacy.
Question 7: A PMU artist notices rust on metal tools kept in an autoclave pouch. What does this indicate?
- The tools were sterilized too many times
- Moisture was trapped in the pouch, indicating a seal or drying failure (Correct answer)
- The pigments reacted with the metal during sterilization
- The autoclave temperature was too high
Correct answer: Moisture was trapped in the pouch, indicating a seal or drying failure
Rust on autoclaved tools indicates that moisture was not properly eliminated, suggesting a seal failure or inadequate drying cycle — the tools must be re-evaluated.
PMU Sterilization & Infection Control 3
What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard require PMU practitioners to have access to?