Infection Control

Question 1

Define, a process which eliminates many pathogenic microorganisms.

Answer 1

Disinfection

Question 2

Define, a process that removes or kills all forms of microbial life.

Answer 2

Sterilisation

Question 3

When is an instrument defined as sterile?

Answer 3

When the theoretical probability of a viable microorganism being present on a device following a validated sterilisation process is less than one in a million

Question 4

What type of microorganisms is the most resistant to disinfection and sterilisation?

Answer 4

Prions

Question 5

Why should instruments never be allowed to air-dry after the cleaning process?

Answer 5

Inadequate drying may enable moisture to get trapped, promoting microbial growth and or corrosion of the instruments

Question 6

What does the manufacturers device directive define?

Answer 6

The information manufacturers are obliged to provide to the users for their product

Question 7

What marking should be on medical devices to allow the products to be traded on the Great Britain market?

Answer 7

UKCA (formally CE)

Question 8

What do COSHH regulations state in regards to exposure to hazardous substances?

Answer 8

Any employer must assess health risks from hazardous substances and provide details of the measures necessary to control these risks

Question 9

When manually cleaning instruments, why should water temperature ideally stay between 30-35 degrees Celsius, and not exceed 45 degrees Celsius?

Answer 9

As prion proteins can start to coagulate and fix to instrument surfaces making cleaning more difficult

Question 10

What are the three types of sterilisation cycles and how do they differ?

Answer 10

• Type B
• Type N
• Type S

These cycles differ in the way air is removed, the types of load they can sterilise and whether or not the items can be wrapped prior to sterilisation