General

Question 1

According to the Spaulding Classification, what do you sterilise, disinfect or clean?

Answer 1

Critical
–Devices that enter tissue that is usually sterile or enters the vascular system STERILE
Semi-Critical
–Instruments that have contact with intact mucous membranes but does not penetrate sterile tissues - STERILE preferable/HIGH LEVEL DISINFECT
Non-Critical
–Instruments have contact with intact skin only DISINFECT/CLEAN

Question 2

What does sterile mean?

Answer 2

For a terminally-sterilised medical device to be designated ‘STERILE’ the theoretical probability of there being a viable micro-organism present on/in the device should be equal to or less than 1x10-6

Question 3

What is the life cycle of re-usable surgical instruments?

Answer 3

Cleaning
Disinfection
Inspection
Packaging
Sterilisation
Transport
Storage
Use
Transport

Question 4

What are the steps of Decontamination?

Answer 4

Washer-Disinfector
Rinse
Then Inspect
–if fails inspection, can use ultrasonic bath/manual cleaning. After this stage return to washer disinfector
Then Sterilisation

Question 5

What 4 key elements are required for successful cleaning process? What is the circle called?

Answer 5

Energy
Temperature
Chemicals
Time
**Sinner Circle
If you decrease or increase any of the quarters it will impact the efficacy of the process

Question 6

What is the temperature and time required for Thermal Disinfection?

Answer 6

90-95 degrees
1 minute minimum

Question 7

What is the temperature and time required for Steam Sterilisation?

Answer 7

134-137 degrees
3 minute minimum

Question 8

What kind of detergent is used for enclosed processes (not designed to be in contact with skin)?

Answer 8

High and low alkaline detergent

Question 9

What kind of detergent is used in the Ultrasonic and for Manual Washing)?

Answer 9

Enzymatic detergent- breaks down protein into smaller particles

Question 10

What kind of detergent is used in Manual washing?

Answer 10

Enzymatic detergent
pH neutral detergent (less harmful to skin)

Question 11

What is the chemical molecule within detergent designed to have?

Answer 11

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends
One end repels water and the other is attracted to it
The hydrophobic end never contacts water, because of the repulsion, which is where the contamination is drawn to and then flushed away as the hydrophilic end attaches to water molecules

Question 12

During the washing stage why must the temperature remain below 36 degrees?

Answer 12

To prevent protein coagulation