DAANCE Infection Control and Patient Safety
Exam Questions and Verified Answers with
Rationale Latest Edition 2026/2027
Question 1
Which of the following microbial monitoring organisms is
universally used as the biological indicator (spore test) to verify
the efficacy of steam sterilization autoclaves?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Geobacillus stearothermophilus
D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are highly
resistant to heat. Because they survive harsh high-temperature
environments, they serve as the gold standard test organism to
confirm that a steam sterilizer is effectively destroying all forms
of microbial life.
Question 2
According to CDC and OSHA guidelines, how frequently must
biological monitoring (spore testing) of sterilization equipment
be performed in an oral and maxillofacial surgery office?
A. Daily
B. Weekly
, C. Monthly
D. Annually
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends routine biological monitoring of all
sterilization equipment at least once a week to ensure proper
functionality and patient safety.
Question 3
What immediate action must be taken if a biological indicator
(spore test) yields a positive result (failure) during a routine
sterilization cycle test?
A. Immediately discard all wrapped packs processed that
day without further evaluation.
B. Stop using the sterilizer immediately, retest the machine,
and reprocess any instruments processed since the last
negative test.
C. Switch immediately to chemical cold sterilization liquids
only.
D. Continue using the autoclave if the mechanical
temperature gauge looks normal.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive spore test indicates sterilizer failure. The
machine must be taken out of service immediately, the cause
investigated, and potentially unsterile instruments processed
since the last successful test must be re-cleaned and re-sterilized.
,Question 4
Which category of patient care items enters and penetrates soft
tissue, bone, or the vascular system, and therefore requires
mandatory heat sterilization between uses?
A. Non-critical items
B. Semi-critical items
C. Critical items
D. Environmental surface items
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Critical items carry the highest risk of introducing
infection because they break mucosal barriers or enter sterile
body sites (e.g., surgical burs, scalpel blades, needle holders).
They must always be heat-sterilized.
Question 5
How must semi-critical items—such as reusable mouth mirrors
or metal impression trays that contact intact mucous
membranes—be processed between patients?
A. Cleaned with surface alcohol wipes only
B. Heat-sterilized; if heat-sensitive, processed with high-
level disinfection
C. Immersed in ordinary tap water for 10 minutes
D. Wiped with a low-level disinfectant soap
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:Semi-critical items touch mucous membranes but do
not penetrate them. Heat sterilization is the preferred method,
, but if an item is heat-sensitive, it must undergo high-level
disinfection cleared by the FDA.
Question 6
Which type of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be
donned last right before beginning patient care or surgical
scrubbing?
A. Protective surgical gown
B. Protective eyewear or face shield
C. Procedural or surgical gloves
D. Face mask / respirator
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:* Gloves are always put on last so that they do not
touch other contaminated surfaces or adjustments of the mask,
gown, or glasses during the donning sequence.
Question 7
Which engineering control is specifically designed to minimize
sharps injuries and percutaneous exposures in a surgical setting?
A. Recapping needles using a traditional two-handed
technique
B. Utilizing self-sheathing needles, safety scalpels, or
needleless transfer devices
C. Disposing of uncapped needles directly into regular
office trash cans
D. Transporting loose surgical needles across the room on a
tray
Exam Questions and Verified Answers with
Rationale Latest Edition 2026/2027
Question 1
Which of the following microbial monitoring organisms is
universally used as the biological indicator (spore test) to verify
the efficacy of steam sterilization autoclaves?
A. Escherichia coli
B. Staphylococcus aureus
C. Geobacillus stearothermophilus
D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are highly
resistant to heat. Because they survive harsh high-temperature
environments, they serve as the gold standard test organism to
confirm that a steam sterilizer is effectively destroying all forms
of microbial life.
Question 2
According to CDC and OSHA guidelines, how frequently must
biological monitoring (spore testing) of sterilization equipment
be performed in an oral and maxillofacial surgery office?
A. Daily
B. Weekly
, C. Monthly
D. Annually
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends routine biological monitoring of all
sterilization equipment at least once a week to ensure proper
functionality and patient safety.
Question 3
What immediate action must be taken if a biological indicator
(spore test) yields a positive result (failure) during a routine
sterilization cycle test?
A. Immediately discard all wrapped packs processed that
day without further evaluation.
B. Stop using the sterilizer immediately, retest the machine,
and reprocess any instruments processed since the last
negative test.
C. Switch immediately to chemical cold sterilization liquids
only.
D. Continue using the autoclave if the mechanical
temperature gauge looks normal.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A positive spore test indicates sterilizer failure. The
machine must be taken out of service immediately, the cause
investigated, and potentially unsterile instruments processed
since the last successful test must be re-cleaned and re-sterilized.
,Question 4
Which category of patient care items enters and penetrates soft
tissue, bone, or the vascular system, and therefore requires
mandatory heat sterilization between uses?
A. Non-critical items
B. Semi-critical items
C. Critical items
D. Environmental surface items
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Critical items carry the highest risk of introducing
infection because they break mucosal barriers or enter sterile
body sites (e.g., surgical burs, scalpel blades, needle holders).
They must always be heat-sterilized.
Question 5
How must semi-critical items—such as reusable mouth mirrors
or metal impression trays that contact intact mucous
membranes—be processed between patients?
A. Cleaned with surface alcohol wipes only
B. Heat-sterilized; if heat-sensitive, processed with high-
level disinfection
C. Immersed in ordinary tap water for 10 minutes
D. Wiped with a low-level disinfectant soap
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:Semi-critical items touch mucous membranes but do
not penetrate them. Heat sterilization is the preferred method,
, but if an item is heat-sensitive, it must undergo high-level
disinfection cleared by the FDA.
Question 6
Which type of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be
donned last right before beginning patient care or surgical
scrubbing?
A. Protective surgical gown
B. Protective eyewear or face shield
C. Procedural or surgical gloves
D. Face mask / respirator
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:* Gloves are always put on last so that they do not
touch other contaminated surfaces or adjustments of the mask,
gown, or glasses during the donning sequence.
Question 7
Which engineering control is specifically designed to minimize
sharps injuries and percutaneous exposures in a surgical setting?
A. Recapping needles using a traditional two-handed
technique
B. Utilizing self-sheathing needles, safety scalpels, or
needleless transfer devices
C. Disposing of uncapped needles directly into regular
office trash cans
D. Transporting loose surgical needles across the room on a
tray
