Deck 21: Principles and Techniques of Instrument Processing and Sterilization

Question 1

The best way to determine whether sterilization has occurred is to use:

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

Answer 1

biologic monitors.

Question 2

An ultrasonic cleaning solution:

A)should be a dilution of a surface disinfectant.
B)should have an antimicrobial activity that will disinfect the instruments.
C)should be specially formulated for use in only the ultrasonic cleaner.
D)does not have enzymatic activity.

Answer 2

should be specially formulated for use in only the ultrasonic cleaner.

Question 3

All reusable instruments (critical and semicritical)that contact the patient's blood,saliva,or mucous membranes must be:

A)heat sterilized.
B)heat sanitized.
C)precleaned and disinfected.
D)discarded in a biohazard bag.

Answer 3

heat sterilized.

Question 4

When transporting and processing contaminated patient care items,precautions need to be taken to avoid personal exposure to microorganisms through:

A)percutaneous injury.
B)contact with mucous membranes of the eye, nose, or mouth.
C)breathing aerosol from disinfectant and other chemicals.
D)a and b

Question 5

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

A)critical, semicritical, and noncritical
B)critical and semicritical
C)semicritical and noncritical
D)noncritical

Question 6

Instruments need to be bagged before steam sterilization to:

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

Question 7

Personal protective equipment (PPE)that must always be used when processing instruments includes:

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 8

Instrument 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 9

At the completion of the cleaning cycle of an ultrasonic cleaning unit,instruments should be:

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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 12

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 treatment areas and dental laboratory.
D)open to the outside through a door or windows.

Question 13

The process of killing all microorganisms,including bacterial endospores,is:

A)disinfection.
B)sterilization.
C)ultrasonic cleaning.
D)ultraviolet light.

Question 14

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

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

Question 15

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 16

In the sterilization process,a process indicator is an example of _____ monitoring.

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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 19

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.

Question 20

The purpose of an instrument holding solution is to:

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

Question 21

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)do both a and c

Question 22

Some ultrasonic cleaning solutions have:

A)disinfectant properties.
B)enzymatic activity.
C)antimicrobial activity.
D)both b and c

Question 23

Microorganisms in a steam sterilizer are killed by:

A)heat.
B)pressure.
C)both heat and pressure.

Question 24

Sterilization errors include:

A)improper packaging.
B)improper timing.
C)improper loading.
D)all of the above.

Question 25

Methods of preventing rust from forming on an instrument during the sterilization process include:

A)completely drying the instrument.
B)lubricating hinged the hinge.
C)allowing the instrument to air dry in the packaging.
D)both a and b

Question 26

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 27

The order of the cycles of a steam sterilizer is:

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

Question 28

For sterilization to occur,the minimal contact time for instruments in a chemical liquid sterilizer is _____ hour(s).

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

Question 29

Ultrasonic cleaner solution:

A)becomes highly contaminated with use.
B)should be discarded at least once a day.
C)becomes visibly cloudy when needing to be changed.
D)all of the above.

Question 30

Biologic monitoring is also known as _____ testing.

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

Question 31

A tear in an instrument package requires the dental assistant to:

A)staple the hole closed.
B)ignore the hole.
C)use a new instrument package.
D)do none of the above.

Question 32

Recommended methods for sterilizing dental handpieces include:

A)chemical liquid sterilization.
B)steam sterilization.
C)chemical vapor sterilization.
D)both b and c

Question 33

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is:

A)steam autoclave.
B)chemical vapor.
C)dry heat sterilization.
D)chemical liquid sterilization.

Question 34

The autoclave cycle that allows the steam under pressure to be released from within the chamber is the _____ cycle.

A)heating
B)drying
C)sterilizing
D)depressurizing

Question 35

All of the following are forms of sterilization monitoring except _____ monitoring.

A)physical
B)structural
C)chemical
D)biologic

Question 36

All of the following statement concerning liquid chemical sterilants are true except they:

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

Question 37

All of the following are chemicals used to create vapor for sterilizing with chemical vapor sterilization except:

A)ketone.
B)formaldehyde.
C)alcohol.
D)sodium hypochlorite.

Question 38

Drying instruments to prevent rusting is essential when processing in:

A)chemical vapor.
B)cold sterilization.
C)steam.
D)flash sterilization.

Question 39

A monitoring service will immediately communicate a failure of sterilization through:

A)a telephone call to the dental office, reporting a positive result.
B)a telephone call to the dental office, reporting a negative result.
C)mailing a notice to the dental office to document that the cultures were read as a positive result.
D)mailing a notice to the dental office to document that the cultures were read as a negative result.

Question 40

The sterilization method that will not rust,dull,or corrode dry metal instruments is:

A)chemical vapor sterilization.
B)flash sterilization.
C)steam autoclave.
D)liquid chemical sterilization.

Question 41

The best method to remove debris from the head of the handpiece is to:

A)wipe off with disinfectant.
B)flush the handpiece for 10 to 20 seconds.
C)place it in an ultrasonic cleaner.
D)run water through the handpiece.

Question 42

A process indicator is placed:

A)inside the instrument package.
B)outside of the instrument package.
C)within the chamber.
D)all of the above.

Question 43

Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or bone are termed _____ instruments.

A)noncritical
B)semicritical
C)critical
D)All of the above are correct.

Question 44

The best method for determining whether sterilization has occurred is:

A)biologic monitoring.
B)checking the sterilizer.
C)checking the single-parameter indicator.
D)all of the above.

Question 45

One of the disadvantages of flash sterilization is:

A)the short exposure time.
B)the high temperature.
C)an inability to wrap items.
D)none of the above.

Question 46

The temperature during handpiece sterilization should never exceed ____° F.

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

Question 47

The minimum frequency recommended by the CDC,ADA,and OSAP for biologic monitoring of all sterilizing equipment is:

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

Question 48

All of the following will cause a sterilization failure except:

A)excessive packaging.
B)using correct packaging material.
C)overloading of sterilizer.
D)inadequate instrument cleaning.