Asepsis in Patient Care

Questions and Answers

Differentiate between medical and surgical asepsis.

Medical asepsis is any practice that reduces the number and spread of microorganisms. Surgical asepsis is the process that eliminates completely all microorganisms and their spores from the surface of an object.

Match the need for medical or surgical asepsis to the following procedures:

Measuring Vital Signs = Medical Asepsis Administering an intravenous contrast agent = Surgical Asepsis Taking a flat plate image of the abdomen = Medical Asepsis Reapplying a dressing = Surgical Asepsis Catheterization of the urinary bladder = Surgical Asepsis

When entering a surgical suite and preparing to enter Zone 2, what must the radiographer do?

Just walk in without preparation

Wear regular clothes

Change into a scrub suit

Change into a scrub suit, don shoe covers, and cover his/her hair (correct)

List the three most common causes of contamination of a surgical site.

<ul> <li>Microorganism blown into the surgical site</li> <li>Use of contaminated instruments or gloves</li> <li>A wet or damp sterile field</li> </ul> Signup and view all the answers

Maintenance of the sterile field is the duty of only the circulating nurse.

False Signup and view all the answers

Disinfectants are categorized depending on their ability to disinfect. Alcohol is considered an intermediate-level disinfectant. This means that it:

May be used to disinfect thermometers and medication vials Signup and view all the answers

If there is a question about the sterility of an item, what must the radiographer do?

Consider it unsterile and replace it Signup and view all the answers

When opening a sterile wrapper, the fold closest to the radiographer is opened first.

False Signup and view all the answers

The purpose of the surgical scrub is:

To remove as many microbes as possible from the skin Signup and view all the answers

List three responsibilities of the radiographer in the operating room or special procedures room.

<ol> <li>To protect himself or herself and all persons in the OR or special procedures room from exposure to radiation.</li> <li>To be knowledgeable concerning the areas that are sterile.</li> <li>To protect sterile areas and the patient from contamination.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

When preparing to enter the OR, the radiographer must don a lead apron and wear his radiation protection badge:

Outside the lead apron Signup and view all the answers

Any dressing removed in the imaging department must be considered:

Contaminated Signup and view all the answers

When sterile drapes are placed by the sterile person, the drape is placed:

In the area nearest the sterile person first Signup and view all the answers

If the radiographer is allergic to latex, he must:

Inform the staff and use non-latex gloves Signup and view all the answers

Sterile technique must be used during a dressing change only if the dressing is not contaminated.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes