Acupuncture CNT Exam Part II: Best
Practice Protocols-Graded A
What is the standard by which acupuncturists prevent occupational exposure to
healthcare associated pathogens, including blood borne pathogens and surface
pathogens, and reduce the risk of some other adverse events associated with
acupuncture? - ANSWER-Clean needle technique (CNT)
Clean Needle Technique must be distinguished from what? - ANSWER-Sterile
technique
True or false: CNT is a clean rather than sterile procedure. - ANSWER-True
True or false: Gloves do not need to be worn except under specific conditions where
exposure of the practitioner to blood or other potentially infected body fluids is possible.
- ANSWER-True
Gloves are worn: - ANSWER-1. When blood is involved
2. When needling in the genital region or mouth
3. Lesions on the patient's skin
4. Lesions or open wounds of the acupuncturist's hand
5. When cleaning blood or OPIM from a surface
What is the best way to reduce the number of microbes? - ANSWER-Washing hands
with soap and water
What to do when soap and water are not available? - ANSWER-Use 60% alcohol
sanitizer
Critical safety guidelines for hand sanitation: - ANSWER-1. How to wash hands or how
to use hand sanitizer
2. Use at least 60% alcohol sanitizer before and after treating patient
3. Do not use alcohol-based hand products to wash hands after exposure of non-intact
skin to blood or body fluids
4. Wash hands BEFORE entering patient's room
5. Wash hands immediately prior to inserting acupuncture needles. Rewash hands if
come into contact with pens, clothes, charts, etc
6. Wash hands after touching patient
7. Wash hands before and after eating
8. Wash hands with soap and water after using restroom
9. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing
, 10. Wear gloves when blood or body fluids involved
11. Remove gloves immediately after exposure. Wash hands or sanitizer
Critical of wash hands: - ANSWER-1. Wash hands with running water (neutral or warm)
2. Lather your hands by rubbing
3. Scrub hands for 10 to 15 seconds
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water, with your hands lower than your
elbows
5. Dry hands using clean paper towel
6. Turn off faucet using paper towel
7. Open doors btw. you and patients using paper towel, or re-clean hands upon entering
patient's room
Critical of how to use hand sanitizer: - ANSWER-1. Apply product to the palm of one
hand
2. Rub hands together
3. Rub over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry
Critical safety guidelines for preparing and maintaining a clean field: - ANSWER-1.
Follow safety guidelines for hand sanitation
2. Select a clean, dry, flat surface to serve as the setting for the clean field. A treatment
table is not suitable.
3. A new clean field for each patient
4. Place acupuncture materials on the clean field
5. Place clean cotton balls or unopened swabs on the field.
6. Clean the surface used for the clean field with a low-level disinfectant at least once
daily.
Strongly recommended safety guidelines for preparing and maintaining a clean field: -
ANSWER-1. Place clean cotton balls or unopened swabs on the clean field (clean jar)
2. Keep sterile items near the center of the clean field with clean items near the edges
3. Clean blister packs of sterile needles may be handled and replaced back onto the
clean field.
4. Clean previously sterilized guide tubes may be handled and replaced back onto the
clean field.
Should needles be inserted through inflamed, irritated, diseased, or broken skin? -
ANSWER-Never
If area is clean, should you still use alcohol swabbing? - ANSWER-Recommended but
not essential
Acupuncturists with visibly dirty hands should wash their hands with: - ANSWER-Soap
and water
Practice Protocols-Graded A
What is the standard by which acupuncturists prevent occupational exposure to
healthcare associated pathogens, including blood borne pathogens and surface
pathogens, and reduce the risk of some other adverse events associated with
acupuncture? - ANSWER-Clean needle technique (CNT)
Clean Needle Technique must be distinguished from what? - ANSWER-Sterile
technique
True or false: CNT is a clean rather than sterile procedure. - ANSWER-True
True or false: Gloves do not need to be worn except under specific conditions where
exposure of the practitioner to blood or other potentially infected body fluids is possible.
- ANSWER-True
Gloves are worn: - ANSWER-1. When blood is involved
2. When needling in the genital region or mouth
3. Lesions on the patient's skin
4. Lesions or open wounds of the acupuncturist's hand
5. When cleaning blood or OPIM from a surface
What is the best way to reduce the number of microbes? - ANSWER-Washing hands
with soap and water
What to do when soap and water are not available? - ANSWER-Use 60% alcohol
sanitizer
Critical safety guidelines for hand sanitation: - ANSWER-1. How to wash hands or how
to use hand sanitizer
2. Use at least 60% alcohol sanitizer before and after treating patient
3. Do not use alcohol-based hand products to wash hands after exposure of non-intact
skin to blood or body fluids
4. Wash hands BEFORE entering patient's room
5. Wash hands immediately prior to inserting acupuncture needles. Rewash hands if
come into contact with pens, clothes, charts, etc
6. Wash hands after touching patient
7. Wash hands before and after eating
8. Wash hands with soap and water after using restroom
9. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing
, 10. Wear gloves when blood or body fluids involved
11. Remove gloves immediately after exposure. Wash hands or sanitizer
Critical of wash hands: - ANSWER-1. Wash hands with running water (neutral or warm)
2. Lather your hands by rubbing
3. Scrub hands for 10 to 15 seconds
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water, with your hands lower than your
elbows
5. Dry hands using clean paper towel
6. Turn off faucet using paper towel
7. Open doors btw. you and patients using paper towel, or re-clean hands upon entering
patient's room
Critical of how to use hand sanitizer: - ANSWER-1. Apply product to the palm of one
hand
2. Rub hands together
3. Rub over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry
Critical safety guidelines for preparing and maintaining a clean field: - ANSWER-1.
Follow safety guidelines for hand sanitation
2. Select a clean, dry, flat surface to serve as the setting for the clean field. A treatment
table is not suitable.
3. A new clean field for each patient
4. Place acupuncture materials on the clean field
5. Place clean cotton balls or unopened swabs on the field.
6. Clean the surface used for the clean field with a low-level disinfectant at least once
daily.
Strongly recommended safety guidelines for preparing and maintaining a clean field: -
ANSWER-1. Place clean cotton balls or unopened swabs on the clean field (clean jar)
2. Keep sterile items near the center of the clean field with clean items near the edges
3. Clean blister packs of sterile needles may be handled and replaced back onto the
clean field.
4. Clean previously sterilized guide tubes may be handled and replaced back onto the
clean field.
Should needles be inserted through inflamed, irritated, diseased, or broken skin? -
ANSWER-Never
If area is clean, should you still use alcohol swabbing? - ANSWER-Recommended but
not essential
Acupuncturists with visibly dirty hands should wash their hands with: - ANSWER-Soap
and water
