California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

Which infection control measure is considered the most critical for reducing the transmission of microbes in the health care setting according to the CDC?

1. Use of disposable gloves

2. Use of masks

3. Sterilization of instruments

4. Hand washing

The correct answer is: Hand washing

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) considers hand washing to be the most critical infection control measure in healthcare settings. This is because hand washing is the most effective way to remove and prevent the spread of microbes, including bacteria and viruses, which can cause infections. While the use of disposable gloves and masks can provide a barrier against contamination, they do not completely eliminate the risk of transmission. This is because gloves and masks can become contaminated through contact with infected patients or surfaces and can also fail to properly cover all areas that may come into contact with microbes. Similarly, while sterilization of instruments is important for preventing the transmission of infectious diseases, it is not considered the most critical measure. This is because some disease-causing microbes may not be completely eliminated through the sterilization process, and hand-to-hand transmission of microbes is still possible even with sterilized instruments. In contrast, proper hand washing techniques,