Minnesota Dental Jurisprudence Practice Exam

Is the following sequence correct when seeing patients: Remove gloves, wash hands, remove barriers, place clean barriers?

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on the circumstances

4. Only in specific settings

The correct answer is: False

In the context of infection control protocols in dental practices, the correct sequence when handling barriers, gloves, and hand hygiene is crucial to ensure patient safety and prevent cross-contamination. Typically, the recommended practice dictates that barriers should be placed before any clinical procedures begin, after which gloves are required, and post-procedure, gloves should be removed first to prevent the contamination of surfaces or equipment before washing hands. In the sequence outlined in the question, removing gloves first would mean risking contamination of both barriers and surfaces since gloves are the primary means of barrier protection against infectious agents. Washing hands before removing barriers also does not follow the standard procedure since it would be more logical to remove barriers after the gloves have been disposed of and hands washed thoroughly to ensure the clinician is not transferring any potential pathogens from their gloves onto the barriers or surfaces. Thus, the overall process outlined in the question does not comply with the accepted protocol, leading to the conclusion that the answer is indeed false. Proper infection control requires specific actions in a logical sequence to maintain a sterile environment and protect patient and provider health.