INFECTION CONTROL IN DENTISTRY - Exam 1 Study Guide (Ch 1-3)

Study flashcards cover key concepts from Chapters 1-3: infection control basics, microbiology fundamentals, bacterial/virus/fungi differences, spore use in dentistry, host defenses, and infectious disease stages. Each card presents a question and its answer to aid exam preparation.

What is infection control?

Practices and procedures that prevent or reduce the spread of infection in dental settings.

What is pasteurization?

A heat-treatment process that kills pathogens and reduces microbial load while preserving quality.

Chapter 1: What should you be familiar with regarding the important people named in the chapter?

Know what they are known for.

What functions do microorganisms perform?

Decompose organic material, participate in fermentation, aid in nutrient cycling, and can cause disease.

What are prions?

Infectious protein particles that lack nucleic acids and can cause neurodegenerative diseases.

What are probiotics?

Live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts.

Name some subdisciplines within microbiology.

Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, Immunology (and related fields).

What are endospores and which spores do we use in dentistry?

Dormant, highly resistant bacterial structures; in dentistry, spores like Bacillus atrophaeus or Geobacillus stearothermophilus are used as sterilization indicators.

What does acidogenic mean?

Producing acid.

What does aciduric mean?

Tolerating or thriving in acidic environments.

Name the three temperature-based groups of bacteria.

Psychrophiles, Mesophiles, Thermophiles.

Name the four oxygen-metabolism groups of bacteria.

Obligate aerobes, Obligate anaerobes, Facultative anaerobes, Microaerophiles.

How are bacteria named and differentiated?

Binomial nomenclature: Genus (capitalized) and Species (lowercase); both usually italicized.

Differentiate bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Bacteria are prokaryotic, unicellular organisms; viruses are acellular particles that require a host; fungi are eukaryotic organisms (yeasts/molds).

What does CFU stand for?

Colony Forming Unit, a measure of viable bacteria.

What is the pH scale?

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is, ranging from 0 to 14; 7 is neutral.

Which spores are used as endospores indicators in dental settings?

Bacillus atrophaeus (formerly B. subtilis) and Geobacillus stearothermophilus.

Define opportunistic, exogenous, endogenous, and toxigenic.

Opportunistic: causes disease when host defenses are compromised. Exogenous: originates outside the host. Endogenous: originates from the host’s own flora. Toxigenic: capable of producing toxins.

What is Candida albicans?

A yeast-like fungus that can cause infections, including oral candidiasis.

Who developed Gram staining and what is its purpose?

Dr. Christian Gram; it differentiates bacteria by cell wall properties (Gram-positive vs Gram-negative).

Name a bacterial structure and its function: Capsule.

Capsule protects bacteria from phagocytosis by the host.

Name a bacterial structure and its function: Flagella.

Flagella provide motility.

Name a bacterial structure and its function: Pili (fimbriae).

Pili enable attachment to surfaces or host cells.

What is a key difference between bacteria and viruses in terms of cellularity?

Bacteria are cellular prokaryotes; viruses are acellular particles that require a host cell to replicate.

What is a CFU?

Colony Forming Unit, a measure of viable bacteria.

What is the first step in binomial nomenclature naming?

Identify the genus, which is capitalized.

What is a major use of pH knowledge in dentistry?

Understanding acidity in the oral environment and caries risk (acidogenic/aciduric concepts).

Chapter 2: What is Candida albicans best described as?

A yeast-like fungus involved in opportunistic infections.

What did Dr. Christian Gram contribute to microbiology?

Developed the Gram staining method to differentiate bacteria by cell wall properties.

Name two bacterial structures that promote adherence and infection.

Pili/fimbriae (attachment) and capsules (evading phagocytosis).

What is the function of the bacterial cell wall?

Provides shape and rigidity and protects against osmotic pressure.

What is the role of bacteria in acid production in the dental context?

Acidogenic bacteria produce acids that can demineralize tooth structure; aciduric bacteria survive in acidic environments.

What represents a key difference among bacteria, viruses, and fungi in terms of reproduction?

Bacteria reproduce asexually as living cells; viruses replicate only inside host cells; fungi reproduce as eukaryotic organisms (spores, mold growth, etc.).

What is the four-stage model of innate host defenses?

Physical barriers (skin/mucous membranes), chemical barriers (saliva, stomach acid), cellular barriers (phagocytes), and inflammatory/physiological defenses (fever, inflammation).

What is immunization and what type of immune response develops?

Immunization induces active immunity with memory; it leads to long-lasting antibody production and memory B cells.