Microorganism Disinfection and Sterilization Quiz

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.