36 Questions
What is the process of destroying microorganisms by heat or chemical means?
Disinfection
Where are sterile instruments and supplies loaded before surgery?
Case cart
Which items must be sterile as they come in contact with sterile body tissues or the vascular system?
Critical
What is the first phase of reprocessing medical instruments?
Sorting
Which method is usually ineffective against destroying spores?
Disinfection
Which category of items includes surgical instruments, vascular cannulas, and hypodermic needles that must be sterile?
Critical
What process does the ultrasonic cleaner use to remove debris from instruments?
Cavitation
Why should power-driven surgical instruments like drills and saws be disassembled before sterilization?
Steam sterilization process
What is the main purpose of wrapping an item before sterilization?
Shielding from contamination
Which classification level is assigned to critical devices under the Spaulding classification system?
Ultra-critical
What do Class 3 indicators respond to in the sterilization process?
Only one critical parameter with an exact value
What do Class 5 indicators react to in the sterilization process?
All critical values over a specified range
Which indicator class is used specifically for internal pack control of each cycle run?
Class 6
What does cavitation cause during the ultrasonic cleaning of instruments?
Tiny air spaces trapped within debris implode
What class of indicators is represented by multivariable indicators that react to two or more parameters?
Class 4
During the phase of steam sterilization when air is removed from the chamber and replaced with steam, it is known as ____________.
Conditioning
Which phase in all types of steam sterilizers involves air being removed from the chamber and replaced with steam?
Conditioning
What principle does a gravity displacement sterilizer operate on?
Air is heavier than steam
Which type of sterilizer pulls air from the chamber with vacuum force and replaces it with steam?
Dynamic air-removal (prevacuum)
What do chemical indicators signify in the context of sterilization?
Time of exposure to sterilization
Which class of indicators is used for specific tests that measure parameters like the presence of pure air in the sterilization chamber?
Class 2
What is the significant function of a dynamic air-removal (prevacuum) sterilizer during operation?
To remove air from the chamber and replace it with steam
What is the recommended practice for damp dusting surgical lights, furniture, and fixed equipment in the operating suite?
Before the first case of the day
When should patient's charts, x-rays, and lab documentation be kept?
Kept free from contamination
What is used to rapidly sterilize clean, decontaminated equipment for immediate use?
Just-in-time
What method is used to sterilize objects that cannot tolerate the heat, moisture, and pressure of steam sterilization?
Ethylene oxide
What has replaced the phrase 'flash sterilization' for unwrapped surgical equipment sterilization just before use?
Immediate-use sterilization
What process follows every surgical case and involves thorough cleaning and disinfection of all equipment and soiled surfaces in the operating room?
Terminal decontamination
How are implants typically sterilized?
Not flash
What are the operating temperatures for a 'cold' cycle and a 'warm' cycle in gas sterilization?
$85°F$ to $100°F$ and $130°F$ to $145°F$
Which profession requires expertise in the science and practice of materials management, decontamination, and sterilization?
Central Processing Technician (CPT)
Which items must be sterile before use on a patient?
Laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes, and endotracheal tubes
For which items is decontamination used?
Used for anesthesia equipment, gastrointestinal endoscopes, bronchoscopes
What method is used for destroying microorganisms, except spores, by heat or chemical means?
Disinfection
Which process uses steam, ethylene oxide, peracetic acid, or cobalt-60 for sterilization?
Sterilization
Which method uses isopropyl alcohol 70% to 90%, glutaraldehyde, and iodophor solution for disinfection?
Uses isopropyl alcohol 70% to 90%, glutaraldehyde, and iodophor solution
Study Notes
Sterilization and Disinfection
• Disinfection is the destruction of microorganisms by heat or chemical means, but it does not destroy spores. • Spores are usually not destroyed by disinfection.
Sterile Instruments and Supplies
• Sterile instruments and supplies are loaded onto a cart before surgery and transported to the surgical suite.
Spaulding Classification
• The Spaulding classification assigns three risk levels to reprocessing instruments and patient materials based on the region of the body where the device will be used: + Critical items: enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and must be sterilized. + Semicritical items: come into contact with mucous membranes or intact skin and must be sterilized. + Noncritical items: do not penetrate intact tissues and may not require sterilization.
Reprocessing Phases
• The first phase of reprocessing is sorting, which is done to prevent damage to delicate items and prevent injury during reprocessing. • The next phase is cleaning, followed by sterilization.
Power-Driven Surgical Instruments
• Power-driven surgical instruments (e.g., drills and saws) should be disassembled before sterilization to ensure proper cleaning and sterilization.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
• The ultrasonic cleaner removes debris from instruments by a process called cavitation, which uses high-frequency sound waves to implode air spaces trapped within debris.
Wrapping and Sterilization
• The purpose of wrapping an item before sterilization is to protect it from contamination after the sterilization process. • Wrapping prevents the passage of microorganisms and other contaminants into the item during storage.
Chemical Indicators
• Chemical indicators are used to verify that the sterilization process has been successful. • There are four types of chemical indicators: + Class 1: process indicators + Class 2: specialty indicators (e.g., Bowie-Dick test) + Class 3: single-parameter indicators (e.g., heat-sensitive pellets) + Class 4: multiparameter indicators (e.g., internal chemical indicators) + Class 5: integrating indicators (e.g., react to all critical values over a specified range) + Class 6: emulating indicators (e.g., internal pack control)
Steam Sterilization
• Steam sterilization has three distinct phases: + Conditioning (air removal and steam introduction) + Exposure (sterilization process) + Drying (post-sterilization drying) • There are two types of steam sterilizers: + Gravity displacement sterilizers + Dynamic (prevacuum) sterilizers
Flash Sterilization
• Flash sterilization has been replaced by immediate-use sterilization, which involves sterilizing unwrapped surgical equipment by a high-vacuum steam sterilization method just before use. • Implants are not flash sterilized except in an emergency and must be monitored with a biological control system.
Ethylene Oxide Sterilization
• Ethylene oxide (ETO) is used to sterilize objects that cannot tolerate heat, moisture, and pressure. • ETO sterilization operates at temperatures ranging from 85°F to 100°F for a "cold" cycle and 130°F to 145°F for a "warm" cycle.
Terminal Decontamination
• Terminal decontamination is the thorough cleaning and disinfection of all equipment and soiled surfaces in the operating room after every surgical case. • This process is performed by central processing technicians (CPTs).
Test your knowledge on the destruction of microorganisms through heat or chemical means, as well as the process of sterilizing instruments and supplies. Questions cover topics like spores resistance, disinfection methods, and surgical preparations.
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