Safety & Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real CH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety & Infection Control flashcards as text
What is the purpose of maintaining a Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) for disinfectants used in a colonic practice?
Answer: To provide employees with information on safe handling, hazards, and emergency procedures for chemical products
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) requires SDS documents to be accessible to all employees for every hazardous chemical in the workplace.
Which mode of transmission is of greatest concern when a colonic therapist is working in close proximity to a client who is coughing or sneezing?
Answer: Droplet and airborne transmission
Respiratory droplets and potentially airborne particles expelled during coughing or sneezing can transmit respiratory pathogens to the therapist at close range.
After removing contaminated gloves, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) is NOT the preferred hand hygiene method when hands are visibly soiled with:
Answer: Fecal matter or bodily fluids
The CDC recommends soap and water (not ABHR) when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with fecal matter, as alcohol cannot physically remove organic material.
What is 'biofilm' and why is it relevant to colonic hydrotherapy equipment safety?
Answer: A community of microorganisms encased in a protective matrix that adheres to surfaces and resists disinfection
Biofilm can form inside tubing and water lines of colonic equipment, dramatically increasing resistance to disinfectants and serving as a persistent source of infection.
A client asks whether they can share their personal colonic speculum with a family member. The therapist should explain that:
Answer: Speculums should never be shared; each person requires their own sterile or single-use device to prevent transmission of pathogens
Even between family members, sharing colonic devices risks transmitting pathogens including bloodborne viruses, parasites, and bacteria via residual fecal matter.
Under what circumstance may a colonic hydrotherapist remove their gloves before the end of a session?
Answer: If gloves become visibly punctured or torn, they should be removed, hand hygiene performed, and new gloves donned immediately
Compromised gloves no longer provide an effective barrier, requiring immediate replacement to maintain infection control protection throughout the session.
Which federal regulation specifically governs the management of medical waste that may be generated in a colonic hydrotherapy practice?
Answer: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) in conjunction with state medical waste regulations
Medical waste management is governed by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard at the federal level, with state regulations providing additional specific requirements.