California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

Routine hand washing removes?

1. Only transient microbes

2. Only resident microbes

3. Most of the transient microbes and some of the resident microbes

4. All microbes completely

The correct answer is: Most of the transient microbes and some of the resident microbes

Hand washing is an essential part of maintaining personal hygiene and preventing the spread of germs and illnesses. Routine hand washing involves using soap and water to clean the hands, with the aim of removing microbes that can cause infections. But it is important to note that some microbes, known as resident microbes, are naturally present on the skin and are necessary for maintaining a healthy balance. These microbes are not harmful and are not removed completely by hand washing. On the other hand, transient microbes are picked up from the environment and can cause illness. Hand washing can effectively remove these microbes, but it may not completely remove all of the resident microbes on the skin. This is why the correct answer is that routine hand washing removes most of the transient microbes and some of the resident microbes. Option A and B are incorrect because they both state that hand washing only removes one type of microbe, which is not entirely true.