Pathogen & Diseases
The specific bacteria that is the primary causative agent for Tuberculosis
What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
The standard of care requiring dental staff to treat all patients and body fluids (except sweat) as infectious
What are Standard Precautions?
The recommended wash duration using water and antimicrobial soap for an antiseptic hand wash
What is 15–20 seconds?
The primary method of instrument sterilization using steam under pressure
What is autoclaving?
The level of chemical disinfectant capable of destroying all vegetative bacteria and viruses but not spores
What is intermediate-level disinfectant?
The viral pathogen that attacks T-lymphocytes and leads to opportunistic infections like candidiasis
What is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)?
Cross-contamination occurring when a person touches an object and a second person touches that same object
What is indirect cross-contamination?
The mask level and shield combination recommended by NIOSH for dental hygiene clinicians
What is a Level 3 mask with a face shield?
The required ultrasonic cleaning cycle time for instrument cassettes in an enzyme solution bath
What is 10 minutes?
The duration dental unit waterlines must be flushed at the beginning of each clinical day
What is 2 minutes?
The fluid-filled vesicular lesion on the lip that is highly contagious during the tingling prodromal stage
What is Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1 / cold sore)?
Name the 6 major links in the Infectious Process / Chain of Disease Transmission
Infectious agent, Reservoirs, Port of Exit, Transmission, Port of Entry, Susceptible Host
The heavy-duty protective gloves required when scrubbing instruments or handling Cavicide
What are utility gloves?
The exposure time required for dry heat sterilization at 320°F (160°C)
What is 2 hours?
Inanimate items that contact body fluids or mucous membranes but do not penetrate soft tissue or bone
What are semi-critical items?
The antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain contracted in healthcare settings that causes conditions such as septicemia and bacteremia
What is MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
The time interval between initial contact with an infectious agent and the appearance of the first clinical symptom
What is the incubation period?
The required percentage concentration range of ethanol or isopropanol in an alcohol-based hand rub
What is 60–95%?
The biological indicator organism used for spore testing in autoclave verification
What is Geobacillus stearothermophilus?
The optimal distance from the source for High Volume Evacuation (HVE) to mitigate aerosol spatter
What is 6 to 15 mm?
The virus transmitted via saliva or direct contact that can cause oncogenic oropharyngeal cancers at the base of the tongue or tonsils
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
Liquid or solid air particles 10 microns or smaller that can be breathed deep into the lungs
What are aerosols?
The exact sequence for putting on PPE before patient care
What is placing mask and eyewear first, performing hand hygiene, and donning gloves in front of the patient?
The required facing orientation of sterilization pouches when loading them inside the autoclave
What is paper side up?
The duration a patient should rinse with an antimicrobial pre-procedural rinse prior to treatment
What is 30 seconds?