6. Medical Asepsis

Question 1

deals with reducing the probability of
infectious organisms being
transmitted to a susceptible individual

Answer 1

Medical asepsis

Question 2

Proper cleaning, dusting,
linen handling, and hand
hygiene techniques, can
reduce the transmission of
microorganism

Answer 2

Simple Cleanliness Measures

Question 3

Involves the destruction of
pathogens by using
chemical materials

Answer 3

Disinfection

Question 4

Involves treating items with
heat, gas, or chemicals to make
them germ-free

Answer 4

Surgical Asepsis / Sterilization

Question 5

The sterile items are then stored
in a manner that prevents
contamination

Answer 5

Surgical Asepsis / Sterilization

Question 6

Medical Asepsis types

Answer 6

1. Simple Cleanliness Measures
2. Disinfection
3. Surgical Asepsis / Sterilization

Question 7

How can you fight the spread of infection?:

Answer 7

1. Stay home when you are ill if possible. If you must work, avoid contact
   with immunocompromised patients.
2. Use a tissue to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
3. Wear a clean uniform or hospital scrubs daily, and remove them before
   leaving the hospital or clinic. The best option is to wear hospital scrubs so
   that they can be laundered by the hospital.
4. Perform hand hygiene frequently.
5. Use established precautions when handling patients, linens, or items
   contaminated with body substances.
6. Change or remove contaminated gloves after handling a patient or before
   touching other objects or equipment in the room.
7. Practice good housekeeping techniques in your work area.
8. When in doubt about the cleanliness of any object, do not use it.
9. Dispose immediately of linens, instruments, or other items that touch the floor.
10. The floor is always considered contaminated.
11. Ask patients who are coughing or sneezing to cover mouth and nose with tissue.

Question 8

is an easy and effective
method to control the
transmission of
infection

Answer 8

Medically aseptic

handwashing (Hand Hygiene)

Question 9

reduces the incidence of
airborne infections and the transfer
of pathogens by fomites

Answer 9

Good housekeeping in the

workplace

Question 10

A clean, dry environment

discourages the growth of all microorganism

Answer 10

Housekeeping

Question 11

Several general principles apply whenever cleaning is required:

Answer 11

• Always clean from the least contaminated area toward the more
contaminated area and from the top down.
• Avoid raising dust.
• Do not contaminate yourself or clean areas.
• Clean all equipment that comes in contact with patients after each use. Use
a cloth moistened with disinfectant. The CDC recommends sodium
hypochlorite bleach (Clorox) as an inexpensive, effective disinfectant for
preventing the spread of HIV.
• Mix bleach in a 1:10 solution daily, because its effectiveness declines rapidly
when diluted.

Question 12

Handling Linens

Answer 12

• Objects or linens soiled with body secretions or excretions are considered
contaminated and may serve as fomites even when no stains are apparent.
• To prevent airborne contamination, fold the
edges of linens to the middle without
shaking or flapping, and immediately place
loosely balled linens in the hamper.
• Never use any linen for more than one
patient.

Question 13

Disposal of Contaminated Waste

Answer 13

• Disposable items are designed to be used only once and then
discarded.
• The only exception to this rule involves the immediate reuse of an unsterile item (for example, emesis basin) by the same
patient.
• Some separate glass, plastic, and paper into covered containers,
while others place everything together.

Question 14

Disposal of Contaminated Waste

Answer 14

• objects contaminated with blood or body fluids be discarded in a suitable container and marked with the biohazard symbol
• used needles and syringes are placed in special containers designed to
receive the syringe without recapping it
• contaminated bandages and dressings are handled with gloves and placed directly into red plastic

Question 15

Isolation Technique

-Transmission-based Precautions

Answer 15

1. Airborne Precautions
2. Droplet Precautions
3. Contact Precautions
4. Combination Airborne and Contact Precautions
5. Surgical Asepsis

Question 16

designed to reduce the risk of transmitting dust particles containing the infectious organism or airborne
droplet nuclei (5 µm or smaller) to a susceptible person

Answer 16

Airborne Precautions

Question 17

used to prevent diseases such as tuberculosis and measles (rubeola)

Answer 17

Airborne Precautions

Question 18

designed to reduce the contact of large particle droplets (greater than 5
microns) with the conjunctivae or with
mucous membranes of the nose and
mouth of a susceptible person

Answer 18

Droplet Precautions

Question 19

are used to prevent

the transmission of diseases such as diphtheria, pneumonia, and influenza

Answer 19

Droplet Precautions

Question 20

designed to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens by direct skin-to-skin contact or indirect contact with
a contaminated object

Answer 20

Contact Precautions

Question 21

used to prevent transmission of diseases such as multidrug-resistant
wound infections caused by MRSA and VRE, the new strain of E. coli

Answer 21

Contact Precautions

Question 22

designed to reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens by both airborne droplet nuclei and direct
skin-to-skin contact

Answer 22

Combination Airborne and Contact Precautions

Question 23

used to prevent transmission of the virus that causes SARS and the
varicella virus that causes chicken pox and disseminated herpes
zoster

Answer 23

Combination Airborne and Contact Precautions

Question 24

The complete destruction of all organisms and spores from equipment used to perform patient care or
procedures

Answer 24

Surgical Asepsis

Question 25

The sterile linens, gloves, and | instruments used in surgery

Answer 25

Surgical Asepsis

Question 26

Equipment for lumbar punctures, catheterizations, and injections, as well as the care of some immunocompromised patients

Answer 26

Surgical Asepsis

Question 27

Treating items with heat, gas, or chemicals to make them germ-free`

Answer 27

Sterilization

Question 28

Sterilization types

Answer 28

1. Chemical 2. Dry heat 3. Conventional Gas Sterilization 4. Gas plasma technology 5. Autoclaving (steam)

Question 29

involves the immersion and soaking of clean objects in a bath of germicidal solution followed by a sterile water rinse

Answer 29

Chemical Sterilization

Question 30

the effectiveness of this process depends on solution strength and temperature and the immersion time

Answer 30

Chemical Sterilization

Question 31

one of the less satisfactory methods for | providing surgical asepsis

Answer 31

Chemical Sterilization

Question 32

required to sterilize some sharp instruments, certain powders, and greasy substances

Answer 32

Dry heat

Question 33

``` type of sterilization varies from 1 to 6 hours at a temperature range of (165"-170°C) ```

Answer 33

Dry heat

Question 34

items that would be damaged by high temperatures are usually sterilized with a mixture of gases (freon and ethylene oxide) heated to 57°c

Answer 34

Conventional Gas Sterilization

Question 35

used primarily for electrical, plastic, and | rubber items, and for optical ware

Answer 35

Conventional Gas Sterilization

Question 36

telephones, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, and other equipment used in isolation rooms may be sterilized in this manner

Answer 36

Conventional Gas Sterilization

Question 37

Items are cleaned, wrapped, and placed in a compact mobile unit where low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma diffuses through the wrapped instruments and effectively kills both microorganisms and spores

Answer 37

Gas plasma technology

Question 38

a device that provides steam sterilization under pressure, the most commonly used sterilization method

Answer 38

Autoclaving (steam)

Question 39

quickest and most convenient means of sterilization for items that can withstand heat and moisture

Answer 39

Autoclaving (steam)

Question 40

high temperatures (121°-135°C) can be achieved under pressure, making this an extremely effective method

Answer 40

Autoclaving (steam)

Question 41

Most forms of hospital sterilization use _____ to identify that a pack has been sterilized

Answer 41

chemical indicators

Question 42

Indicators change color when the required conditions have been met

Answer 42

Sterility indicators

Question 43

is a microorganism-free area prepared | for the use of sterile supplies and equipment

Answer 43

Sterile Fields

Question 44

The first step in preparing a sterile field is to confirm | the _____ packaged supplies and equipment

Answer 44

sterility

Question 45

Packages are considered sterile if they meet the | following criteria:

Answer 45

1. They are clean, dry, and unopened. 2. Their expiration date has not been exceeded. 3. Their sterility indicators have changed to a predetermined color, confirming sterilization.

Question 46

Standard Principles of Surgical Asepsis

Answer 46

1. Any sterile object or field touched by an unsterile object or person becomes contaminated 2. Never reach across a sterile field. Organisms may fall from your arm into the field. Reaching also increases the chance of brushing the area with your uniform. 3. If you suspect an item is contaminated, discard it. This transfer of bacteria from the outside to the inside of a wrapped set) and items that have the seal broken or on which the indicator tape has not assumed the correct color. 4. Do not pass between the physician and the sterile field. 5. Never leave a sterile area unattended.. If the field is accidentally contaminated (for example, by a fly or a patient reaching for her glasses), no one would know 6. A 1-inch border at the perimeter of the sterile field is considered to be a "buffer zone" and is treated as if it were contaminated.

Question 47

Methods of maintaining medical asepsis

Answer 47

- Handwashing - Cleaning and proper waste disposal - Disinfection - Sterilization - Aseptic versus sterile techniques