Infection Control · patient case question
Which of the following is classified as regulated medical waste?
Patient case: Preparing the practice
demo: New associate dentist
chief: Reviewing the practice infection control and emergency protocols before starting clinical work.
history: The practice is updating its exposure control plan and its written office emergency procedures.
meds: Not applicable.
findings: The office manager asks a series of questions about immunisation, sterilisation monitoring, waste handling and the hierarchy of hazard controls.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. A used scalpel blade
- A. A saliva ejector tip is general waste. It is discarded in the ordinary waste stream unless it is saturated with blood.
- B. A cotton roll with a trace of blood is general waste. The threshold for regulated soft waste is saturation or dripping, or the capacity to release blood when compressed.
- C. Packaging is ordinary waste and carries no contamination.
- D. Correct. Contaminated sharps are regulated waste without qualification and go straight into a rigid, leak-resistant, labelled sharps container. Scalpel blades, needles, endodontic files, burs, orthodontic wire and broken glass all belong there.
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