Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of sterilization in medical settings?
What is the primary purpose of sterilization in medical settings?
- To reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level
- To enhance the longevity of medical devices
- To prevent surface contamination of medical instruments
- To completely destroy all microorganisms, including spores (correct)
Which sterilization method has the shortest typical cycle time?
Which sterilization method has the shortest typical cycle time?
- Dry Heat
- Ethylene Oxide (EO) at high pressure
- Gas plasma at ambient temperature (correct)
- Steam (moist heat) at high pressure
Which feature is essential for a sterilization method to be considered effective?
Which feature is essential for a sterilization method to be considered effective?
- Ability to operate at high temperatures
- Capability for processing wrapped items without contamination risk (correct)
- Utilization of chemical agents in every cycle
- Involvement of multiple sterilization techniques in a single cycle
For which of the following sterilization methods is the cycle time approximately 40–60 minutes?
For which of the following sterilization methods is the cycle time approximately 40–60 minutes?
What is a common characteristic of low temperature chemical sterilization methods?
What is a common characteristic of low temperature chemical sterilization methods?
Flashcards
Medical sterilization purpose
Medical sterilization purpose
Completely eliminates all microbes, including spores.
Fastest sterilization method
Fastest sterilization method
Gas plasma at ambient temperature has the shortest cycle time
Effective sterilization feature
Effective sterilization feature
Safely sterilize wrapped items without contamination of the items themselves.
Steam sterilization time
Steam sterilization time
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Low-temp chemical sterilization
Low-temp chemical sterilization
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Study Notes
Overview of Sterilization
- Complete destruction of microorganisms, including bacterial spores.
- Essential for all reusable invasive medical devices (RMD).
Ideal Characteristics of Sterilization Methods
- Rapid throughput for efficiency.
- Easy validation to ensure effectiveness.
- Ability to process wrapped items for safe storage without contamination risk.
Common Sterilization Methods
-
Steam (Moist Heat)
- Operates at high pressure.
- Cycle time: approximately 40–60 minutes.
-
Dry Heat
- Functions like an oven at normal pressure.
- Cycle time: up to 2 hours.
-
Gas Plasma
- Works at ambient temperature.
- Cycle time: 45–75 minutes.
-
Ethylene Oxide (EO)
- Can be performed at sub-atmospheric or high pressure.
-
Low Temperature Steam and Formaldehyde Vapor
- Specific cycle time not provided; typically used for heat-sensitive items.
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