Infection Control Principles Flashcards

Which method of sterilization is recommended for heat-sensitive dental instruments that cannot withstand autoclave temperatures?

Answer: Ethylene oxide gas or low-temperature hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization

Heat-sensitive items require low-temperature sterilization technologies such as ethylene oxide or hydrogen peroxide plasma, as boiling and chemical disinfection do not achieve sterilization.

What is the significance of the term 'standard precautions' replacing 'universal precautions' in infection control terminology?

Answer: Standard precautions expand protection to all body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat, regardless of visible blood

Standard precautions broadened universal precautions to include all moist body substances except sweat, recognizing that non-bloody body fluids can also transmit pathogens.

A dental hygienist with a latex allergy should request which alternative glove material that provides similar barrier protection?

Answer: Nitrile gloves, which provide comparable barrier protection without latex allergens

Nitrile gloves offer excellent barrier protection, durability, and chemical resistance without natural rubber latex proteins that trigger Type I hypersensitivity reactions.

During aerosol-generating dental procedures, which respiratory protection provides the highest level of protection for the dental hygienist?

Answer: N95 filtering facepiece respirator fitted and fit-tested

An N95 respirator, when properly fit-tested, filters at least 95% of airborne particles and provides significantly more protection than a surgical mask during aerosol generation.

Instrument packaging that shows wet or torn pouches after sterilization should be:

Answer: Re-sterilized in new packaging after re-cleaning

Wet or compromised packaging indicates a breach in sterility; instruments must be reprocessed from the cleaning step in new intact packaging before use.

According to the Spaulding classification, mouth mirrors fall into which category and require what minimum level of processing?

Answer: Semicritical — sterilization or high-level disinfection

Mouth mirrors contact mucous membranes and are classified as semicritical, requiring sterilization when possible or, at minimum, high-level disinfection.

What is the correct action if a dental waterline quality test reveals bacterial counts exceeding 500 CFU/mL?

Answer: Shock-treat the waterlines with an approved disinfectant protocol and retest before patient use

The CDC recommends that dental unit water meet the EPA drinking water standard of ≤500 CFU/mL; counts exceeding this require corrective treatment (shocking) and retesting before resuming patient care.