Manual Instrument Cleaning — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: B — Brush the submerged instruments in a dedicated sink, using a long-handled brush and appropriate PPE
**A is correct.** Where manual cleaning is exceptionally necessary, instruments should be cleaned in a dedicated sink while submerged, using a long-handled brush and suitable PPE. Submersion reduces splashing and aerosol generation during brushing. Cleaning is an essential stage before inspection and steam sterilisation; it cannot be omitted merely because instruments will subsequently be sterilised. In current SDCEP-endorsed SHTM 01-05 guidance, a washer-disinfector is the standard requirement for compliant dental-instrument reprocessing, so the stem confines manual cleaning to a temporary equipment unavailability scenario. **B** increases splash risk because brushing is performed under running water. **C** and **D** do not provide the required mechanical removal of adherent contamination. **E** incorrectly bypasses cleaning, despite decontamination being a multistage process.
Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Decontamination: SHTM 01-05 instrument decontamination guidance, April 2024. https://www.sdcep.org.uk/published-guidance/decontamination/