Infection Prevention and Control questions for the ADC written exam.
Infection Prevention and Control in the ADC written examination covers standard and transmission-based precautions, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, reprocessing of reusable instruments and the management of exposure incidents. Candidates should understand the principles behind the infection control requirements for Australian dental practice, including the NHMRC guidelines, and apply them to clinical scenarios.
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141
infection prevention and control practice questions
- 2%
- of the exam
- 8
- subtopics
- Oct 2026
- updated
Inside this topic.
The subtopics our infection prevention and control questions cover.
- Waterlines
- Sterilization
- PPE
- Ethics
- Governance
- Hand Hygiene
- Sharps
- BBV
Key facts to remember.
High-yield infection prevention and control points to revise before the exam.
- 1
Standard precautions, including hand hygiene, PPE, safe sharps handling and environmental cleaning, apply to every patient regardless of known infection status.
- 2
Under the Spaulding classification, critical items penetrate tissue and must be sterile, semi-critical items contact mucosa, and non-critical items contact only intact skin.
- 3
Instruments must be thoroughly cleaned before sterilisation, because residual organic material can shield microorganisms from the sterilising agent.
- 4
Typical steam sterilisation holding times are at least 3 minutes at 134°C or 15 minutes at 121°C.
- 5
Alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred method of hand hygiene for most clinical situations, unless hands are visibly soiled.
Sample questions with answers.
10 practice questions for the ADC Written Exam - General Dentistry (Official Blueprint) - Australia (Infection Prevention and Control). Pick an answer to see if you're right, with a full explanation.
Question 1
What is the MOST important factor determining post-exposure management?
Question 2
What is the MOST appropriate dental management?
Question 3
Why is "back-siphoning" a risk in older dental units?
Question 4
Which principle covers the requirement for a clinic to have a written IPAC manual?
Question 5
If a patient discloses they have HIV, how should the clinical management change?
Question 6
What documentation is REQUIRED?
Question 7
Which pathogen carries the highest occupational transmission risk after needlestick injury?
Question 8
Why should non-urgent care be deferred?
Question 9
What is the most significant breach of IPAC principles in this scenario?
Question 10
Which strategy BEST prevents recurrence?
Other topics in this exam.
Questions, answered
Learn the full cycle in order: transfer, cleaning, inspection, packaging, sterilisation, storage and use, together with how each step is monitored and recorded. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation and which level each instrument category requires. Understand how physical, chemical and biological indicators are used to verify sterilisation and why cycle records and batch identification matter for traceability.
Wash the area with soap and water without scrubbing, do not suck the wound, and report the incident immediately. The exposure and the source patient's risk should be assessed promptly, with blood testing and, where indicated, post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV started as soon as possible. Dental staff should be vaccinated against hepatitis B and know their immune status.
Ready to practise infection prevention and control?
All 141 infection prevention and control questions, with explanations and a readiness score for this topic.