INFECTION CONTROL CDC EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS 2025
In the text the acronym DHCP is used - what does it reference? - ANSWERSrefers to all
paid and unpaid personnel in the dental health-care setting who might be occupationally
exposed to infectious materials
ie dentist, dental hygienest, dental assistant, front desk
How are pathogenic microorganisms like HBV transmitted in the dental setting? -
ANSWERS1) direct contact with blood, oral fluids, or other patient materials; 2) indirect
contact with contaminated objects (e.g., instruments, equipment, or environmental
surfaces); 3) contact of conjunctival, nasal, or oral mucosa with
droplets (e.g., spatter) containing microorganisms generated from an infected person
and propelled a short distance (e.g., by coughing, sneezing, or talking); and 4)
inhalation of air- borne microorganisms that can remain suspended in the air for long
periods
What is the difference between universal precautions and standard precautions in the
clinical dental practice? - ANSWERSStandard precautions apply to contact with 1)
blood; 2) all body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat), regard- less of
whether they contain blood; 3) nonintact skin; and 4) mucous membranes. Saliva has
always been considered a potentially infectious material in dental infection control; thus,
no operational difference exists in clinical dental practice between universal precautions
and standard precautions.
In the text the acronym OPIM is used - what does it reference? - ANSWERSOther
potentially infectious materials. OSHA term that refers to 1) body fluids including semen,
vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid,
peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures; any body fluid visibly
contaminated with blood; and all body fluids in situations where differentiating between
body fluids is difficult or impossible; 2) any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact
skin) from a human (living or dead); and 3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ
cultures; HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs,
or other tissues from experimen- tal animals infected with HIV or HBV.
Can an individual that is a carrier of Hepatitis B work as a dental receptionist? Why or
why not? - ANSWERSYes, as that position does not perform exposure-prone
procedures.
, Can an individual with Hepatitis C work as a dental hygienist?Why or why not? -
ANSWERSNo restrictions on professional activity.HCV-positive health-care personnel
should follow aseptic technique and standard precautions.
Given the scenario that you have chicken pox, when can you return to work as a dental
hygienist? - ANSWERSFrom tenth day after first exposure through twenty-first day
(twenty-eighth day if varicella-zoster immune globulin [VZIG] administered) after last
exposure.
How long is your dentist-employer required to keep your confidential medically related
information? - ANSWERSat least the duration of employment plus 30 years
What body fluid contains the greatest proportion of HBV infectious particle titers and is
the most critical vehicle of transmission in the health-care setting? -
ANSWERSbloodand blood-contaminated saliva
How long can HBV survive in dried blood at room temperature on an environmental
surface? - ANSWERSless than or equal to 1 week
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV, what should
you do if you did not develop an adequate antibody response? - ANSWERScomplete a
second 3-dose vaccine series or be evaluated to determine if they are HBsAg-positive.
If no antibody response occurs after the second series, testing for HBsAg should be
performed
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV, what should
you do if you are a nonresponder to the vaccination? - ANSWERSNonresponders to
vaccination who are HBsAg-negative should be considered susceptible to HBV infection
and should be counseled regard- ing precautions to prevent HBV infection and the need
to obtain HBIG prophylaxis for any known or probable parenteral exposure to HBsAg-
positive blood.
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV and you
responded accordingly with antibodies, how often should you receive a booster does of
the vaccine? - ANSWERSVaccine-induced antibodies decline gradually over time, and
60% of persons who initially respond to vaccination will lose detectable antibodies over
12 years. Even so, immunity continues to prevent clinical disease or detectable viral
infection. Booster doses of vaccine and periodic serologic testing to monitor antibody
concentrations after completion of the vaccine series are not necessary for vaccine
responders
What is the cause of occupational exposures to blood in dentistry that poses the
greatest risk of disease transmission? - ANSWERSExposures occur through
percutaneous injury (e.g., a needle-stick or cut with a sharp object), as well as through
contact between potentially infectious blood, tissues, or other body fluids and mucous
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
ANSWERS 2025
In the text the acronym DHCP is used - what does it reference? - ANSWERSrefers to all
paid and unpaid personnel in the dental health-care setting who might be occupationally
exposed to infectious materials
ie dentist, dental hygienest, dental assistant, front desk
How are pathogenic microorganisms like HBV transmitted in the dental setting? -
ANSWERS1) direct contact with blood, oral fluids, or other patient materials; 2) indirect
contact with contaminated objects (e.g., instruments, equipment, or environmental
surfaces); 3) contact of conjunctival, nasal, or oral mucosa with
droplets (e.g., spatter) containing microorganisms generated from an infected person
and propelled a short distance (e.g., by coughing, sneezing, or talking); and 4)
inhalation of air- borne microorganisms that can remain suspended in the air for long
periods
What is the difference between universal precautions and standard precautions in the
clinical dental practice? - ANSWERSStandard precautions apply to contact with 1)
blood; 2) all body fluids, secretions, and excretions (except sweat), regard- less of
whether they contain blood; 3) nonintact skin; and 4) mucous membranes. Saliva has
always been considered a potentially infectious material in dental infection control; thus,
no operational difference exists in clinical dental practice between universal precautions
and standard precautions.
In the text the acronym OPIM is used - what does it reference? - ANSWERSOther
potentially infectious materials. OSHA term that refers to 1) body fluids including semen,
vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid,
peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures; any body fluid visibly
contaminated with blood; and all body fluids in situations where differentiating between
body fluids is difficult or impossible; 2) any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact
skin) from a human (living or dead); and 3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ
cultures; HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs,
or other tissues from experimen- tal animals infected with HIV or HBV.
Can an individual that is a carrier of Hepatitis B work as a dental receptionist? Why or
why not? - ANSWERSYes, as that position does not perform exposure-prone
procedures.
, Can an individual with Hepatitis C work as a dental hygienist?Why or why not? -
ANSWERSNo restrictions on professional activity.HCV-positive health-care personnel
should follow aseptic technique and standard precautions.
Given the scenario that you have chicken pox, when can you return to work as a dental
hygienist? - ANSWERSFrom tenth day after first exposure through twenty-first day
(twenty-eighth day if varicella-zoster immune globulin [VZIG] administered) after last
exposure.
How long is your dentist-employer required to keep your confidential medically related
information? - ANSWERSat least the duration of employment plus 30 years
What body fluid contains the greatest proportion of HBV infectious particle titers and is
the most critical vehicle of transmission in the health-care setting? -
ANSWERSbloodand blood-contaminated saliva
How long can HBV survive in dried blood at room temperature on an environmental
surface? - ANSWERSless than or equal to 1 week
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV, what should
you do if you did not develop an adequate antibody response? - ANSWERScomplete a
second 3-dose vaccine series or be evaluated to determine if they are HBsAg-positive.
If no antibody response occurs after the second series, testing for HBsAg should be
performed
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV, what should
you do if you are a nonresponder to the vaccination? - ANSWERSNonresponders to
vaccination who are HBsAg-negative should be considered susceptible to HBV infection
and should be counseled regard- ing precautions to prevent HBV infection and the need
to obtain HBIG prophylaxis for any known or probable parenteral exposure to HBsAg-
positive blood.
Given the scenario that you received the primary vaccine series for HBV and you
responded accordingly with antibodies, how often should you receive a booster does of
the vaccine? - ANSWERSVaccine-induced antibodies decline gradually over time, and
60% of persons who initially respond to vaccination will lose detectable antibodies over
12 years. Even so, immunity continues to prevent clinical disease or detectable viral
infection. Booster doses of vaccine and periodic serologic testing to monitor antibody
concentrations after completion of the vaccine series are not necessary for vaccine
responders
What is the cause of occupational exposures to blood in dentistry that poses the
greatest risk of disease transmission? - ANSWERSExposures occur through
percutaneous injury (e.g., a needle-stick or cut with a sharp object), as well as through
contact between potentially infectious blood, tissues, or other body fluids and mucous
