California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

What type of microbial skin flora do not survive on the hands for long periods?

1. Resident flora

2. Transient flora

3. Permanent flora

4. None, all flora survive equally

The correct answer is: Transient flora

Resident flora, also known as normal flora, are microorganisms that are always present on the skin and are adapted to the environment. These types of flora can survive on the hands for long periods of time. Permanent flora are bacteria that cannot be easily removed from the skin and are continuously present. These types of flora can also survive on the hands for long periods of time. None or all flora survive equally is not correct because different types of flora have different abilities to survive on the hands. Therefore, the only option left is B Transient flora, which refers to microorganisms that are temporarily present on the skin and can be easily removed by handwashing. They do not have the ability to survive on the hands for long periods of time.