Exam 2 Flashcards
Medical asepsis
Methods of REDUCING pathogenic microorganisms in the environment and intervening in the process by which microorganisms are spread
Surgical asepsis
The process of creating and maintaining an area that is COMPLETELY free of pathogens
Sterilization
The complete destruction of all organisms and spores from equipment used to perform patient care or procedures
Chemical sterilization
Not recommended for surgical asepsis, immersion and soaking of clean objects in a bath of germicidal solution followed by sterile water rinse
Autoclaving
Most common, steam pressure sterilization, for items that can withstand heat and moisture
Conventional gas sterilization
Used for plastic, electrical, rubber items. Mixture of poisonous gases, time consuming
Gas plasma technology
Sterilizes heat and moisture sensitive items in great volume, cost effective, not useful for items with long, narrow lumina (tubes)
Dry heat
Vacuum chamber with an infrared heating element, less expensive than autoclaving
Sterile field
Microorganism free area prepared for the use of sterile supplies and equipment
Personal sterile field area
From waist to shoulders, to midcoronal plane
Disadvantages of using dry heat sterilization
Requires 1-6 hours to complete, some objects cannot withstand high temperatures
Sterility indicators
Chemical indicators that change color when sterilization has occurred, placed inside and outside the pack
Sterile conscience
Awareness of sterile technique and the responsibility for telling the person in charge when you contaminate a field or observe contamination
When is surgical hand scrub necessary?
When the radiographer is asked to assist with a sterile procedure by working in a sterile field
Surgical hand rub
Alcohol based product that provides a very high level of disinfection that persists for a prolonged period of time
NPO
Order for nothing by mouth, meaning a patient cannot have food or liquid
Debilitated
Feeble or weakened
Incontinence
Involuntary loss of bladder control
Catheter
Tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder, allowing urine to be continuously emptied into an attached collection bag
Colostomy
Surgical creation of an artificial anus (stoma) on the abdominal wall by incising the colon and drawing it out to the surface
Ileostomy
Surgical formation of an opening of the ileum onto the surface of the abdomen through which fecal matter is expelled
Stoma
A pore, orifice, or opening on a surface; the external opening of a colostomy or ileostomy
Anastomosis
A surgical connection between two tubular anatomic structures such as adjacent portions of the intestine
Highest possible Glasgow Coma score
15
