Deck 21: Principles and Techniques of Instrument Processing and Sterilization

Question 1

A method of sterilizing unwrapped patient care items for immediate use is:

A)flash sterilization.
B)dry heat sterilization.
C)autoclaving.
D)chemiclaving.

Answer 1

flash sterilization.

Question 2

Sterilization destroys:

A)all microbial forms, including bacterial spores.
B)all microbial forms, except bacterial spores.
C)bacteria, including bacterial spores and viruses, but not fungi.
D)bacteria, including bacterial spores and fungi, but not viruses.

Answer 2

all microbial forms, including bacterial spores.

Question 3

When transporting and processing contaminated patient care items,the dental assistant can be exposed to microorganisms through _____.

A)percutaneous injury or contact with mucous membranes of the eye, nose, or mouth.
B)percutaneous injury or contact with mucous membranes of the eye and nose, but not the mouth.
C)percutaneous injury, but not contact with mucous membranes.
D)contact with mucous membranes, but not percutaneous injury.

Answer 3

percutaneous injury or contact with mucous membranes of the eye, nose, or mouth.

Question 4

The least desirable method of precleaning dental instruments is:

A)hand scrubbing.
B)ultrasonic cleaning.
C)instrument washing machines.
D)rinsing in a holding solution.

Question 5

The purpose of a holding solution is to _____ instruments.

A)clean
B)disinfect
C)prevent the drying of blood and debris on
D)sterilize

Question 6

Why are instruments bagged before sterilization?

A)To protect them from becoming contaminated after sterilization
B)To allow them to be grouped into special setups by procedure
C)To keep them from rusting
D)Both a and b

Question 7

The ideal instrument-processing area should be:

A)large enough for several assistants to work at one time.
B)dedicated only to instrument processing.
C)part of the operatories and dental laboratory.
D)open to the outside through a door or windows.

Question 8

The ultrasonic cleaner should be cleaned and disinfected:

A)every other day.
B)once a week.
C)at least once a day.
D)once every 28 days.

Question 9

The ultrasonic cleaner cleans dirty instruments using sound waves,which cause:

A)cavitation.
B)implosion.
C)vibrations.
D)both a and b.

Question 10

A process indicator is an example of _____ monitoring of the sterilization process.

A)physical
B)external chemical
C)internal chemical
D)biologic

Question 11

_______ is the process of killing all microorganisms,including bacterial spores.

A)Disinfection
B)Sterilization
C)Ultrasonic cleaning

Question 12

After instruments have been through the cleaning cycle of the ultrasonic cleaner,they should be:

A)bagged.
B)rinsed with clear water.
C)placed in the sterilizer.
D)put away.

Question 13

Process indicators that change color are useful for:

A)monitoring sterilization.
B)identifying instrument packs that have been exposed to a certain temperature.
C)determining whether an instrument package has been processed.
D)both b and c.

Question 14

There are sections of the instrument-processing area that govern the workflow pattern.The processing should flow in a single loop from dirty,to _____,to storage.

A)sterile
B)clean, to sterile
C)preclean, to clean
D)preclean, to clean, to sterile

Question 15

The best way to determine that sterilization has actually occurred is to use:

A)process integrators.
B)biologic monitors.
C)process indicators.
D)color-changing sterilization bags or tape.

Question 16

The ultrasonic cleaning solution:

A)should be a dilution of the surface disinfectant.
B)should have an antimicrobial activity that will disinfect the instruments.
C)should be specially formulated for use only in the ultrasonic cleaner.
D)must not have enzymatic activity, because such products have been removed from the market.

Question 17

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered intermediate-level or low-level disinfectant is suitable for cleaning:

A)critical, semicritical, and noncritical instruments.
B)critical and semicritical instruments.
C)semicritical and noncritical instruments.
D)noncritical instruments only.

Question 18

Which of the following patient care items is classified as a semicritical instrument?

A)Dental burs
B)Dental hygiene scalers
C)Lead apron
D)Rubber dam forceps

Question 19

Personal protective equipment (PPE),including _____,must always be used when processing instruments.

A)vinyl or latex gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing
B)utility gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing
C)utility gloves, eyewear, and protective clothing, but not a mask
D)utility gloves, a mask, and protective clothing, but not eyewear

Question 20

All reusable items among the instruments (critical and semicritical) that come in contact with the patient's _____ must be heat-sterilized.

A)blood, saliva, or mucous membranes
B)blood or saliva, but not mucous membranes
C)saliva or mucous membranes, but not blood
D)blood or mucous membranes, but not saliva

Question 21

When using an autoclave to sterilize dental instruments and other items,is it the heat or the pressure that kills the microorganisms?

A)Heat
B)Pressure
C)Both heat and pressure

Question 22

As a dental assistant you are placing instruments into the instrument package,and the explorer tears a hole in the package.You should:

A)staple the hole.
B)ignore the hole.
C)use a new instrument package.
D)use a paper clip.

Question 23

Instruments must be absolutely dry or they will rust when using which type of sterilization process?

A)Chemical vapor
B)Cold sterilization
C)Steam autoclave
D)Flash sterilization

Question 24

Some ultrasonic cleaning solutions have:

A)disinfectants.
B)enzyme activity.
C)antimicrobial activity.
D)both b and c.

Question 25

Which type of sterilization used in the dental office requires the highest temperature?

A)Steam autoclave
B)Chemical vapor
C)Dry heat sterilization
D)Chemical liquid sterilization

Question 26

Chemical liquid sterilization requires at least _____ hour(s) of contact time for sterilization to occur.

A)1
B)10
C)5
D)24

Question 27

How can instrument rusting be prevented?

A)Instrument must be completely dry
B)Lubrication of hinges in instrument
C)Leaving instrument wet in packaging
D)Both a and b

Question 28

Which of the following is not a form of sterilization monitoring?

A)Physical
B)Structural
C)Chemical
D)Biologic

Question 29

Which of the following is correct about ultrasonic cleaner solution?

A)It is highly contaminated.
B)It should be discarded at least once a day.
C)It becomes visibly cloudy when needing to be changed.
D)All of the above are correct.

Question 30

Within a steam autoclave,the _____ cycle precedes the _____ cycle.

A)drying; heat-up
B)depressurization; sterilizing
C)heat-up; sterilizing
D)sterilizing; heat-up

Question 31

Recommended methods for sterilizing dental handpieces include which of the following?

A)Chemical liquid sterilization
B)Steam sterilization
C)Chemical vapor sterilization
D)Both b and c

Question 32

Which of the following is not a chemical used to create vapor for sterilizing with chemical vapor sterilization?

A)Ketone
B)Formaldehyde
C)Alcohol
D)Sodium hypochlorite

Question 33

Ultrasonic cleaners are used to:

A)loosen and remove debris from instruments.
B)disinfect instruments.
C)reduce risk of hand injury from cuts and punctures that can occur with hand scrubbing.
D)both a and c.

Question 34

Which of the following is incorrect about liquid chemical sterilants?

A)They have a use-life of usually 30 days.
B)They are highly toxic.
C)They require 10 hours for sterilization.
D)They may be disposed of by dumping down the sink.

Question 35

The major advantage of the chemical vapor sterilizer is that:

A)it does not rust, dull, or corrode dry metal instruments.
B)it does not require ventilation.
C)a longer cycle time ensures superior penetration of closed containers.
D)the unsaturated chemical solution is reusable and is automatically recycled, eliminating the need to refill the sterilizer.

Question 36

Failure of the sterilization process will be reported by the monitoring service immediately by:

A)phone to the dental office as a positive result.
B)phone to the dental office as a negative result.
C)mail to the dental office to document that the cultures were read as a positive result.
D)mail to the dental office to document that the cultures were read as a negative result.

Question 37

Autoclaves usually operate through four cycles.Which cycle allows the steam under pressure to be released from within the chamber?

A)Heat-up
B)Drying
C)Sterilizing
D)Depressurization

Question 38

Another term for biologic monitoring is _____ testing.

A)bacterial
B)culture
C)spore
D)chemical

Question 39

Which type of sterilization method will not rust,dull,or corrode dry metal instruments?

A)Chemical vapor sterilization
B)Flash sterilization
C)Steam autoclave
D)Liquid chemical sterilization

Question 40

Sterilization errors would include:

A)proper packaging.
B)proper timing.
C)proper loading.
D)none of the above.

Question 41

What is the best method of determining whether sterilization has occurred?

A)Use biologic monitoring.
B)Check the sterilizer.
C)Check the single-parameter indicator.
D)All of the above are equally good methods.

Question 42

Where is a process indicator placed?

A)Inside the instrument package
B)Outside of the instrument package
C)Within the chamber
D)All of the above

Question 43

Instruments that are used to penetrate soft tissue or bone are _____ instruments

A)noncritical
B)semicritical
C)critical
D)all of the above

Question 44

Which of the following is not an advantage of "flash" sterilization?

A)Short exposure time
B)Temperature
C)Inability to wrap items
D)None of the above

Question 45

Which of the following will not cause a sterilization failure?

A)Excessive packaging
B)Using correct packaging material
C)Overloading of sterilizer
D)Inadequate instrument cleaning

Question 46

Handpiece sterilization temperatures should never exceed ____° F.

A)300
B)270
C)275
D)325

Question 47

The CDC,ADA,and OSAP recommend at least ________ biologic monitoring of all sterilizing equipment.

A)daily
B)bi-weekly
C)weekly
D)monthly

Question 48

What is the best method to remove debris from the head of the handpiece?

A)Wipe off with disinfectant.
B)Flush the handpiece for 10 to 20 seconds.
C)Place in ultrasonic cleaner.
D)Run water through the handpiece.