STERILIZATION

Question 1

instruments used on field should be:

Answer 1

wiped with a sponge moistened in water/soak in water

Question 2

Decontamination

Answer 2

removing organic debris

• -handwashing
• ultrasonic cleaner
• washer-decontaminator/washer sterilizer

Question 3

ultrasonic cleaner

Answer 3

breaks down debris from crevices

• must be free of any debris
• does NOT clean or sterilize

Question 4

cavitation machine

Answer 4

uses high frequency sound waves

Question 5

washer-sterilizer

Answer 5

washer decontaminator/water spray wash

• safe to handle
• not safe on patients

Question 6

instrument assembly

Answer 6

1. instruments inspected and sorted into appropriate sets
2. heavy instruments on bottom
3. sharp instruments turned downward
4. instruments w/ concave surfaces placed upside down

Question 7

packaging criteria: Trays

Answer 7

• perforated bottoms
• line w/ towel
• stainless steel
• sterilization containers

Question 8

packaging criteria: Peel Pouch

Answer 8

• paper/plastic combo wrapper
• individual items (dif. sizes avail.)
• air free

Question 9

wrapping methods

Answer 9

Envelope technique

• double wrapped,sequentially
• wrap basins/double basins
• separate with a towel

Question 10

sterilization process

Answer 10

Process used is dependent on items to be sterilized

1. Steam –> gravity-displacement
   - Pre-Vacuum
2. Gas –> Ethylene Oxide
   - Hydrogen Peroxide (STERRAD)
3. Ionizing radiation–> Cobalt 60
4. Peracetic Acid–> Steris
5. Dry heat

Question 11

steam sterilization

Answer 11

steam under pressure

• most common
• cheapest method
• stainless steel instruments

Question 12

exposure cycle, exhaust cycle, drying cycle

Answer 12

exposure-reached certain temp.

• exhaust-after reaches temp., steam removed from chamber
• drying- then dry!

Question 13

pre vacuum steam sterilizer

Answer 13

270 degrees F - 27 psi (per square inch of pressure) - 4 mins

• air eliminated from chamber through vacuum force
• air is replaced by steam
• *MOST STANDARD
• quick bc vacuum already took out air

Question 14

gravity displacement sterilizer

Answer 14

250 degrees F - 15psi - 30mins

• air is heavier than steam
• steam injected into chamber
• air is pushed down by gravity and released from chamber through a valve below
• air replaced by steam

Question 15

DART

Answer 15

Daily Air Removal Test
*used to test & monitor the efficiency of the high-vacuum sterilizer
(BOWIE DICK TEST)

Question 16

how do you load basins and towels?

Answer 16

on their sides

*items shouldn’t touch

Question 17

maximum size of wrapped towels

Answer 17

12x12x20 inches ; 12lbs

Question 18

maximum weight of instrument carrier

Answer 18

25lbs

Question 19

Flash Sterilizer

Answer 19

In OR–immediate use items

• for emergency use
• only used when NO alternative available
• UNWRAPPED ITEMS
• never flash sterilize implants

Question 20

Flash sterilizer parameters

Answer 20

metal & nonporous : 270 degrees F/ 3 mins

lumens: 270 degrees F / 10 mins

Question 21

Gas sterilization

Answer 21

Ethylene Oxide (toxic) – doesn’t go to high heat

• penetrating
• low temp.
• need humidity/moisture (to be able to hydrate spore)
• V expensive & time consuming process
• just as effective but not as practical

*USED FOR SCOPES

Question 22

Aerated

Answer 22

• aerator
• cycle
• porosity
• clean /dry items (toxic residue)
• items free of lubricating oils (gas can’t penetrate)
• wrapped items

**items that cant be sterilized with this method are acrylics,pharmaceuticals&glass

Question 23

Gas plasma

Answer 23

STERRAD
-hydrogen peroxide–> into vapor
-vapor
scopes,heat and moisture sensitive items, wrapped items

*SHORTER sterilization than Ethyl. Oxide

Question 24

peracetic acid

Answer 24

STERIS

• liquid chem.
• unwrapped, heat sensitive items
• *CAN’T use for immersible items

Question 25

ionizing radiation

Answer 25

COBALT 60 uses radiation to sterilize -used for BULK sterilization /COMMERCIAL use -irradiation *sponges, sutures, drapes, powders, petroleum & pharmaceutical items

Question 26

high level disenfection

Answer 26

GLUTARALDEHYDE/CYDEX * NOT STERILIZATION METHOD - does not kill spores - reprocesses - liquid cold soak (20 MINS) - items must be clean/dry before soaking - used for semi critical items (endoscopes etc) - shelf life 14-28 days - *items rendered sterile if immersed for 10 hrs

Question 27

what does sterile mean?

Answer 27

that microbes & infection are absent

Question 28

bioburden

Answer 28

of microbes or organic debris that exist at a given time

Question 29

infection

Answer 29

the multiplication of organisms in tissue

Question 30

bacilli are usually found to be in shape of?

Answer 30

rods

Question 31

spore

Answer 31

dormant structure that some bacteria can form to survive adverse environmental conditions

Question 32

mechanical cleaning

Answer 32

physical removal of blood and body fluids or gross debris from and inanimate object

Question 33

should instruments be disassembled prior to cleaning?

Answer 33

yepp

Question 34

what catalyst is used to aid in the breakdown of organic material such as blood or tissue?

Answer 34

enzyme

Question 35

what is an enzyme usually used as ?

Answer 35

a soaking solution

Question 36

example of decontamination unit?

Answer 36

ultrasonic washer

Question 37

ultrasonic washer

Answer 37

used to remove small organic particles and soil from areas of instruments that are difficult to wash manually

Question 38

non critical items

Answer 38

BP cuff, stethoscope ,crutches, bed linens | *just touch the top of skin

Question 39

critical items

Answer 39

items that must be sterile *only touch sterile tissue, incision or needle catheters,vascular catheters

Question 40

semicritical items

Answer 40

*used when entering into mucus membrane or in skin | must be completely free of microorganisms, except bacterial spores

Question 41

indigenous resident microbes

Answer 41

microbes that live on skin and inside the human body

Question 42

high level disinfection

Answer 42

destroys all forms of microorganisms except bacterial spores

Question 43

cavitation

Answer 43

process that further removes particles and debris after the ultrasonic cleaner

Question 44

what is primary advantage of ethylene oxide?

Answer 44

it's ability to penetrate wrappers and to disinfect objects that cannot tolerate heat , moisture or pressure of steam sterlization.