DANB ICE flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Chain of infection links

Six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host. Breaking any single link stops transmission.

Standard precautions

Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis whenever contact with blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, or mucous membranes is anticipated.

Alcohol-based hand rub duration

Apply the product and rub hands until dry, about 20 to 30 seconds; use soap and water instead when hands are visibly soiled or after contact with spore-formers.

PPE donning order

Don gown, then mask or respirator, then eye protection, then gloves; remove in reverse order with gloves last and perform hand hygiene afterward.

Droplet precautions

Apply for pathogens spread by large droplets over 5 microns that travel about 3 feet; wear a mask and eye protection when within close contact of the patient.

Airborne precautions

Used for particles under 5 microns that stay suspended in air, such as tuberculosis; requires an N95 respirator, a negative-pressure room, and a closed door.

Sharps handling rule

Never recap, bend, break, or remove needles by hand; place them immediately into a closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof container labeled with the biohazard symbol.

Aerosol-generating dental procedures

Ultrasonic scaling, air polishing, high-speed handpieces, and air-water syringes produce spatter and aerosols; use high-volume evacuation plus a surgical mask and face shield.

Critical item

An item that enters sterile tissue, bone, or the vascular system, such as surgical instruments and scalers, and must be sterilized before use.

Semicritical item

An item that touches mucous membranes or nonintact skin but not sterile tissue, such as mouth mirrors and impression trays; it requires sterilization or high-level disinfection.

Noncritical item

An item that contacts only intact skin, such as chair switches and light handles; it needs cleaning plus low-level disinfection or an intact barrier.

Clinical contact surface

A surface touched during patient care, such as light handles, bracket trays, and drawer pulls; cover it with a barrier or clean and disinfect between patients.

Housekeeping surface

A surface such as floors, walls, and sinks that is not touched during patient care; clean with detergent and water, then disinfect if visibly contaminated.

Disinfectant contact time

The wet time the manufacturer specifies for the product to achieve its labeled kill claims; the surface must stay visibly wet for that entire time.

Dental unit waterline limit

Nonsurgical dental unit water should contain no more than 500 colony-forming units per milliliter; flush lines 20 to 30 seconds between patients and use an EPA-registered water treatment.

Regulated medical waste

Waste that is saturated or dripping with blood, or that contains sharps; place it in labeled red bags or rigid containers and follow state disposal rules.

Sterilization versus disinfection

Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including bacterial spores, while disinfection reduces most pathogens but does not reliably kill spores.

Cleaning before sterilization

Blood and debris must be removed first, often with an ultrasonic cleaner and enzymatic detergent, because bioburden shields microorganisms and blocks sterilant contact.

Steam autoclave parameters

Gravity displacement is typically 121 C (250 F) at 15 to 20 psi for 30 minutes, or 132 C (270 F) for 4 minutes; follow the sterilizer manufacturer's validated cycle.

Biological indicator for steam

A spore test using Geobacillus stearothermophilus, run at least weekly and with every implant load; a failed test means recalling loads back to the last passing test.

Chemical indicator

A strip or dot that changes color when exposed to sterilization conditions; it shows the package was processed, not that sterilization was achieved.

High-level disinfectant use

Glutaraldehyde 2.0 to 3.4 percent or ortho-phthalaldehyde for heat-sensitive semicritical items; monitor minimum effective concentration and use in a well-ventilated area with PPE.

Ultrasonic cleaner operation

Fill with enzymatic or neutral detergent, close the lid during operation, and change solution per manufacturer; it removes debris but does not sterilize instruments.

Sterile package labeling

Each package is marked with the date of sterilization, the cycle or sterilizer identifier, and the preparer so a failed load can be traced.

Exposure control plan

The written OSHA-required document describing how the practice protects employees from bloodborne pathogens; it must be reviewed and updated at least annually.

Hepatitis B vaccination offer

Employers must offer the vaccine free to at-risk employees within 10 working days of assignment; employees may decline in writing but can later request it.

Post-exposure needlestick steps

Wash the site with soap and water without squeezing, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek evaluation and possible post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible.

Training record retention

OSHA requires training records be kept for three years, while medical records including exposure and vaccination history are kept for employment duration plus 30 years.

N95 respirator fit testing

Required before first use and annually thereafter; the wearer performs a user seal check each time, and facial hair at the sealing surface prevents an adequate fit.

Safety Data Sheet requirement

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires an SDS for every hazardous chemical in the workplace, kept accessible to employees during their work shift.

Sharps container replacement

Close and replace the sharps container when it is three-quarters full; follow state and local rules for regulated medical waste disposal.

Employer payment for PPE

OSHA requires employers to supply gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection at no cost and to launder or dispose of contaminated protective equipment.