Final answer:
Waiting room furniture is considered a housekeeping surface under the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings—2003 because it does not come into direct contact with patients during dental procedures. The correct answer is options D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings—2003, housekeeping surfaces are distinguished from clinical contact surfaces. Housekeeping surfaces do not come into direct contact with patients during care and thus have a lower risk of disease transmission. Such surfaces are typically cleaned less frequently and with less stringent methods as compared to clinical contact surfaces. The options provided are:
- Dental chairs: These are considered clinical contact surfaces as they come into direct contact with patients.
- Treatment trays: These too are clinical contact surfaces due to their role in holding instruments that may contact patients or their biological fluids.
- Sterilization equipment: This is not a surface, but rather a part of the equipment used to sterilize tools, which likely indirectly impacts patient safety.
- Waiting room furniture: This is an example of a housekeeping surface as it does not typically come into direct contact with procedures being done on patients.
Therefore, the answer to the question regarding what falls under the category of housekeeping surfaces in the dental healthcare setting is D) Waiting room furniture.