Hand Hygiene for Dental Health Care Professionals

~ Exam ~

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This test has 24 questions.

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1. The intervention by Semmelweis in 1847 represents the first evidence indicating that cleansing heavily contaminated hands with _____ between patient contacts may reduce health-care--associated transmission of contagious diseases more effectively than handwashing with plain soap and water.
  a. alcohol
  b. an antiseptic agent
  c. sodium
  d. isopropanol
2. In 1961, the U. S. Public Health Service produced a training film that demonstrated handwashing techniques. At the time, recommendations directed that personnel wash their hands with soap and water for _____ before and after patient contact. Rinsing hands with an antiseptic agent was believed to be less effective than handwashing
  a. 30 seconds
  b. 1-2 minutes
  c. 10 seconds
  d. 20 seconds
3. The primary function of the skin is to _____.
  a. reduce water loss
  b. provide protection vs microorganisms
  c. act as barrier to the environment
  d. all 3
4. The most outer layer of the skin is the _____.
  a. stratum corneum
  b. epidermis
  c. dermis
  d. hypodermis
5. Gloves reduce hand contamination by ______ percent, prevent cross-contamination and protect patients and health care personnel from infection.
  a. 50-60
  b. 60-70
  c. 70-80
  d. 80-90
6. Alcohol-based handrubs significantly reduce the number of microorganisms on skin, are fast acting and cause _____ skin irritation than water.
  a. more
  b. less
  c. about the same
  d. very little little more
7. Dental Health Care Workers should wash their hands _______ treating each patient.
  a. before
  b. after
  c. before and after
  d. while
8. For many routine dental procedures, such as examinations and nonsurgical techniques, handwashing with _____ soap is adequate.
  a. plain

  b. antibacterial
  c. antimicrobal
  d. special
9. The microbial flora of the skin, first described in 1938, consist of __________ microorganisms.
  a. transient
  b. resident
  c. transient and resident
  d. transient or resident
10. The primary defense against infection and transmission of pathogens is _________.
  a. soap
  b. alcohol
  c. chlorine
  d. healthy skin
11. The majority of flora on the hands are found around the ______.
  a. fingers
  b. palms
  c. fingernails
  d. wrists
12. Wearing gloves does _____ eliminate the need for handwashing.
  a. not
  b. sometimes
  c. often
  d. always
13. The frequency of perforations in surgeon's gloves used during outpatient oral surgical procedures has been determined to range from _____%.
  a. 1-3
  b. 4-10
  c. 6-16
  d. 15-20
14. Washing gloves is ____ recommended.
  a. seldom
  b. sometimes
  c. always
  d. not
15. Washing latex gloves with plain soap, chlorhexidine, or alcohol can lead to the formation of glove micropunctures and subsequent hand contamination, known as ______.
  a. whacking
  b. wicking
  c. gloving
  d. microbing
16. Double gloving _____ provide additional protection from occupational blood contact.
  a. does clearly
  b. does not
  c. might
  d. does seldom
17. The majority of alcohol-based hand antiseptics contain _____.
  a. isopropanol
  b. ethenol
  c. n-propanol
  d. 2-3 of a, b, and c.
18. Alcohol-based products are _____ effective for standard handwashing or hand antisepsis by health care workers than soap or antimicrobial soaps.
  a. less
  b. about as
  c. more
  d. seldom as
19. Keep natural nails tips less than __-inch long.
  a. 1/16
  b. 1/8
  c. 1/4
  d. 1/2
20. Antiseptic handwashing is washing hands with water and soap or other detergents containing a ______ agent.
  a. antiseptic
  b. antimicrobal
  c. cleaning
  d. sterilizing
21. First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Place the bar soap on a rack. Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces. Continue for _____seconds.
  a. 5-10
  b. 10-15
  c. 15-20
  d. 20-30
22. It is estimated that _______% of people do not wash their hands after using the restroom.
  a. 20
  b. 33
  c. 40
  d. 50
23. In industrialized countries, exposure to potential infectious risks has ________ in the last 100 years.
  a. decreased
  b. stayed about the same
  c. increased
  d. been reduced
24. Despite public awareness, however, handwashing generally does not meet recommended standards--members of the public wash too ___________.
  a. infrequnetly
  b. short periods of time
  c. often without soap
  d. both a and b