Sterilization & surgical pack prep Flashcards
(41 cards)
what is antiseptic
antimicrobial used on skin
What is disinfectant?
antimicrobial used on inanimate object
Critical medical item
- all devices used or placed via incision puncture
ex: surgical instruments, catheters, orthopedic inplants
Semicritical medical item
devices that enters epithelium-lined lumen
ex: laryngoscopes, ET tube, flexible endoscope
noncritical medical item
hospital surfaces, external-applied devices
What sterilization is effective in the presence of gross organinc debris?
no sterilization or disinfectant
Radiation sterilization
- use ionizing radiation
- primarily industrial use
- low-temp
What are radiation sterilization usually used on?
most disposable surgical supplies & some inplants
Steam sterilization through autoclave
- coagulation & denaturation of cellular protein
- high- temperature, pressurized steam
- requires set duration
- requires drying
- reliable, non-toxic
- cannot sterilize heat liable items
What happens when steam sterilization temperature increases?
time required decreases
What are required during heat sterilization?
- require exposure for set duration
- drying time
- careful wrapping, loading of packs
- PPE to avoid thermal burns
What is gravity dependent autoclave?
- most common
- steam enters from top & displace air through valve
- temperature sensitive valve closes as steam enters
- vacuum-dependent
What is vacuum dependent autoclave?
- air removed prior to injection of steam
- steam exposure time shorter
- more expensive
What is “flash autoclave”?
- type of autoclave use
- single instrument unwrapped or single wrapped
- placed on perforated metal tray
- item transferred directly to surgical suit
- emergency use only
What is ethylene oxide sterilization?
- flammable, explosive toxic gas that alkylates microbial proteins, DNA, RNA
- suitable for heat liable items
- requires ventilation & purging of ethylene oxide outside
What to be mindful about when sterilizing with ethylene oxide?
toxic residue in combination with organic material
What is plasma sterilization?
- H2O2 gas + UV radiation
- plasma forms free radicals and oxidizes microbes
- suitable for heat-liable items
- shorter cycles
- but can be unsuitable for linen, cotton, paper, plastics…etc
What is cold sterilization?
- instruments stored in high level disinfectant liquid (glutaraldehyde
- safe for instruments
- not truely sterilization
- need to be rinsed thoroughly (can be toxic to tissues)
What can cause failure of sterilization?
- failure to clean instruments properly
- failure to wrap pack
- failure to load chambers properly
- failure to use equipment properly
- mechanical failure of equipment
What should be done to prevent sterilization failure?
- personnel must be properly trained
- equipment properly maintained
- indicators assist in monitoring of sterilization
Chemical sterilization indicator
- paper strip or tape with material that changes colour
- colour change when exposed to condition
- only confirm exposure to condition
What does chemical sterilization not confirm?
duration of exposure to the condition
What are the benefits of using biological sterilization indicators?
- most reliable
- confirms sterility
What are the characteristics of biological sterilization indicators?
- consist of viable spore-forming bacteria (self-contained for biosafety)
- color change if culture +
- positive test indicated failure of sterilization
- more expensive than chemical indicator
