Infection ControlQuestion 57 of 100
A patient's medical history lists no infectious diseases. How should the dental team treat this patient?
a.With reduced precautions, since the history is negative
b.With gloves only, skipping mask and eyewear
c.With full precautions only if the patient looks unwell
d.With standard precautions, which are applied to every patient regardless of known diagnosis
Explanation
Standard precautions treat the blood and body fluids of every patient as potentially infectious, because many carriers of bloodborne pathogens are asymptomatic or unaware of their status. Reducing precautions based on a negative history or on appearance leaves the team unprotected against undiagnosed infections. Gloves alone do not protect the eyes and mucous membranes from spatter.
Law Reference: CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care SettingsPractice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
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