Aseptic Technique Flashcards
Chlorhexidine gluconte and PI, but not parachlorometaxylenol cover gram negative organisms
F - all do
For surgical procedures, the contact and airborne routes are the most likely means of contamination.
T
Autoclaving generates pressures of 2 Pascals and temperatures of 121C that must be maintained for 15-30 mins.
T
Povidone-iodine is most active against Gram positive bacteria, but also active against Gram negative bacteria, M.tuberculosis, fungi and enveloped viruses.
T
Repeated use of povidone-iodine has a additive effect.
F
Contaminated wounds are those with frank purulent fluid such as an abscess, or perforation of a viscus or faecal contamination.
F This is a dirty wound.
Longer procedures carry a greater risk of contamination than brief procedures.
T
Alcohols (60-90%) may be used as an antiseptic and have the fastest onset of action.
T Need to use liberal amount and allow to dry.
On the night before surgery, a preoperative shower with chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone-iodine has been shown to decrease wound infection rates.
T
Alcohol is rapidly germicidal but once evaporated it does not have significant residual activity
T
Chlorhexidine glucondate has the fastest onset
F 60-95% alcohols do
If repeated application of antiseptic preparations is expected (eg. during Mohs), it is not necessary to use the same agent for each consecutive application.
F Should try to use the same, since some antiseptic agents are mutually inactivating.
There is conflicting data regarding the ability of face masks to reduce infection
T
Biopsies performed in a hospital ward, as opposed to an outpatient setting, have a higher risk for infection.
T
Should it be necessary to cough or sneeze while wearing a face mask, you should step backwards and turn away from the surgical field
F Should face the surgical field
Hair removal is indicated for all surgical procedures.
F Only if it will obscure field or hinder technique.
Wounds are defined as clean if they are elective incisions carried out on non-inflammed tissues under strict aseptic technique and if there is no entry into the GI, respiratory or GU tracts.
T
The majority of post-operative wound infections are due to transient micro-organisms that contaminate the wound after surgery.
T Mostly due to endogenous flora from patient’s nose, throat, or skin.
CHG and alcohol containing preparations should be avoided in the periocular area
T
The patient’s normal flora is the most common reservoir for contamination during surgical procedures.
T
Hands should always be washed after removing surgical gloves.
T Surgeon only notices 17% glove perforations.
Chlorhexidine gluconate binds to the stratum corneum and maintains residual activity in excess of 6 hours, even when wiped from the field.
T
The surgical hand scrub should be at least 2 minutes.
T
Gram-negative bacteria are mostly limited to the humid intertriginous areas, with Enterobacter, Klebsiella, E.coli and Proteus spp being the predominant organisms.
T
