California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, patient-care items that penetrate soft tissue are categorized as?

1. Non-critical

2. Semi-critical

3. Critical

4. Not applicable

The correct answer is: Critical

Penetrating patient-care items are categorized as "critical" according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This is because these items come into contact with sterile tissue or the vascular system, and have a high risk of transmitting infectious agents if not properly sterilized. Non-critical items come into contact with intact skin and are at a lower risk of transmitting infectious agents. Semi-critical items come into contact with mucous membranes and carry a moderate risk of infection, but are not inserted into sterile tissue. "Not applicable" is not a category for patient-care items, but rather an option for circumstances where the question does not apply.