Featured article Quiz #3: "microbial inactivation by microwave radiation in the home environment".

Available to NEHA members only, the JEH Quiz, offered six times per calendar year through the Journal of Environmental Health, is a convenient tool for self-assessment and an easily accessible means to accumulate continuing-education (CE) credits to ward maintaining your NEHA credentials.

It's a simple process....

1. Read the featured article carefully.

2. Select the correct answer to each JEH Quiz question.

3. a) Complete the online quiz at www.neha.org (click on "Continuing Education"),

b) Fax the quiz to [phone], or

c) Mail the completed quiz to JEH Quiz, NEHA, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 1000-N, Denver, CO 80246.

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4. One CE credit will be applied to your account with an effective date of December 1, 2006 (first day of issue).

5. Check your continuing-education account online at www.neha.org.

6. You're on your way to earning CE hours!

Quiz deadline: March 1, 2007

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1. Microwave radiation is in the

a. ultraviolet range.

b. infrared range.

c. radio frequency range.

2. Microbial pathogens associated with biofilms on surfaces of medical devices are

a. less resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants than free-swimming pathogens.

b. more resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants than free-swimming pathogens.

c. not made more or less resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants by attachment to a surface.

3. Total inactivation of bacterial spores in a household microwave oven at 100 percent power level requires an exposure period of

a. less than 5 minutes.

b. less than 1 minute.

c. more than 10 minutes.

4. Deaths due to foodborne illnesses in the United States number

a. in the millions.

b. in the hundreds.

c. in the thousands.

5. Bacterial spores are less resistant to microwave irradiation than are bacteria or viruses.

a. True.

b. False.

6. Microorganisms attached to plastic syringes are generally more resistant to microwave irradiation that those associated with kitchen sponges or scrubbing pads.

a. True.

b. False.

7. Kitchen sponges

a. provide a favorable environment for the survival of potential microbial pathogens.

b. are free of pathogens when allowed to dry in the kitchen.

c. have never been found to harbor Salmonella.

8. Microbial pathogens

a. may become inactivated when attached to surfaces of medical devices.

b. may form biofilms on the surface of medical devices.

c. are less resistant to antibiotics when attached to surfaces of medical devices.

9. Bacterial spores could serve as potential indicators for protozoan parasites.

a. True.

b. False.

10. Infectious hospital wastes are traditionally subjected to ______ to inactivate microbial pathogens.

a. Chlorination.

b. Incineration.

c. Ozonation.

JEH Quiz #1

Answers

July/August 2006

1. c

2. a

3. b

4. c

5. a

6. c

7. b

8. b

9. a

10. a

11. a

12. a

13. b

14. c

15. d

Questions compiled by co-author Gabriel Bitton, Ph.D.