Free Sterilization and Infection Control Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Sterilization and Infection Control Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A North Carolina dental office is revising its infection-control policy. Which external guidance must the office follow under the current Board rule?

   1. A. The CDC recommendations applicable to dental settings
   2. B. Only the office's written exposure-control plan
   3. C. Only the sterilizer manufacturer's instructions
   4. D. The clinical testing agency's quality-assurance manual

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The controlling rule says dental settings "shall comply with the recommendations and guidelines" of CDC; this makes the CDC dental guidance the required external standard.

   Reference: Oah 21 Ncac 16 J (0103) — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

2. 2A hygienist notices repeated cross-contamination risks in the operatory. Under the North Carolina rule, who has responsibility for maintaining the required infection-control precautions?

   1. A. Only the dentist who owns the practice
   2. B. Every licensee using the dental setting
   3. C. Only the designated infection-prevention coordinator
   4. D. Only personnel who reprocess instruments

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The rule states, "All licensees are responsible" for the required sterilization and infection-control precautions, so responsibility is not limited to an owner or coordinator.

   Reference: Oah 21 Ncac 16 J (0103) — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(c)

3. 3A practice is assigning leadership for its infection-prevention program. What does CDC recommend?

   1. A. Assign at least one trained infection-prevention coordinator
   2. B. Assign the exposure-control-plan administrator
   3. C. Assign the sterilization-monitoring record custodian
   4. D. Assign the occupational-health referral provider

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs dental settings to "Assign at least one individual trained in infection prevention responsibility for coordinating the program." That trained coordinator is the recommended leadership assignment.

   Reference: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

4. 4When should a dental setting reassess its written infection-prevention policies under CDC's basic expectations?

   1. A. At least annually or as required by law
   2. B. Only when a patient reports an infection
   3. C. Every five years with equipment replacement
   4. D. Only when the infection coordinator changes

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC says policies should be reassessed regularly, "annually" being its stated example, or according to state or federal requirements.

   Reference: Oah 21 Ncac 16 J (0103) — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

5. 5Which supplies should a dental facility make readily available to support Standard Precautions?

   1. A. Hand-hygiene products, safer sharps devices, and appropriate PPE
   2. B. Only surface disinfectant and examination gloves
   3. C. Only emergency medications and oxygen equipment
   4. D. Sterile instruments without hand-hygiene supplies

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs facilities to "Provide supplies necessary for adherence to Standard Precautions" and identifies hand-hygiene products, safer devices, and PPE as examples.

   Reference: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

6. 6At what point should a dental facility's system identify and manage a potentially infectious patient?

   1. A. At the initial point of patient encounter
   2. B. When the clinical examination begins
   3. C. When treatment procedures begin
   4. D. During the post-treatment follow-up

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC requires a system for early detection and management at "initial points of patient encounter." Identification therefore begins at the initial encounter, not later in care.

   Reference: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

7. 7A contract hygienist begins work at a dental clinic. Which infection-prevention education does CDC expect the clinic to provide?

   1. A. Job- or task-specific training that covers both worker and patient safety
   2. B. Only a copy of the sterilizer instructions
   3. C. Training limited to permanent employees
   4. D. Only an annual bloodborne-pathogens quiz

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC requires infection-prevention education and training for "all DHCP" and expressly includes contract personnel; the training must address the worker's task and patient safety.

   Reference: Oah 21 Ncac 16 J (0103) — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

8. 8A hygienist is assigned a newly introduced procedure. When should infection-prevention training occur?

   1. A. Before or when the new task is introduced
   2. B. At the next license renewal only
   3. C. After the first related exposure incident
   4. D. After one year of performing the task

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC requires training during "orientation", when new tasks or procedures are introduced, and at regular intervals; a newly introduced procedure therefore triggers training.

   Reference: Oah 21 Ncac 16 J (0103) — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

9. 9How should a dental setting handle records of infection-prevention education?

   1. A. Maintain them according to state and federal requirements
   2. B. Maintain them for the sterilization-record retention period
   3. C. Maintain them for the patient-treatment-record period
   4. D. Maintain them through the next annual program evaluation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs facilities to "Maintain training records according to state and federal requirements." That controls retention of infection-prevention education records.

   Reference: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)

10. 10Which occupational-health policy should be written and available for dental health-care personnel?

    1. A. A policy listing required and recommended immunizations
    2. B. A policy waiving vaccines for all clinical staff
    3. C. A policy testing patients instead of personnel
    4. D. A policy limited to influenza vaccination

    Answer: A

    Explanation: CDC calls for a written immunization policy including "a list of all required and recommended immunizations for DHCP"; a single-vaccine or waiver policy does not satisfy it.

    Reference: Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care — 21 NCAC 16J .0103(b)