Ch. 17: Equipment Decontamination and Infection Control Flashcards
Define vegetative organisms.
Organisms in active growth.
These organisms pose the greatest hazard for infection via respiratory therapy equipment because the most common equipment con- taminants are not spore-forming bacteria.
Organisms in a resting, resistant stage
Spores
True or False.
Spores are very difficult to kill but pose little threat for infection via respiratory therapy equipment. Examples of spore-forming bacteria are Clostridium and Bacillus.
True
What is the killing of all vegetative forms of organisms but not spores called?
Disinfection
What is the killing of all organisms, both vegetative and spores called?
Sterilization
An agent that sterilizes equipment is called a _____.
sterilant
The suffix -cidal means to ____.
Kill
Define bactericidal
Something that kills bacteria
The suffix -static means __________.
To prevent growth of
Gram-positive bacteria stain what color?
Purple-black color
Gram-negative bacteria stain what color?
Pink
Define nosocomial infection.
A hospital-acquired infection.
Often caused by Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus species, Candida albicans, or E. coli.
CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION
The more concentrated a chemical is, the more ______.
rapid the action
The more intense a physical agent (e.g., heat), the more _________.
rapidly the organisms are killed
The longer the organisms are exposed to the agent, __________.
The greater the number killed.
Increasing the temperature of a chemical agent ________ the exposure time required to kill the organisms.
Shortens
What is sphere-shaped bacteria called?
Cocci
What is spiral-shaped bacteria called?
Spirillum
What is rod-shaped bacteria called?
Bacilli
What is the most frequent encountered bacteria on respiratory equipment?
Bacilli
Are bacilli spore-forming bacteria?
No.
List some examples of bacilli
a. Klebsiella pneumoniae: a gram-negative bacillus
b. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a gram-negative bacillus
c. Mycobacterium species: a gram-positive bacillus
and causative agent of tuberculosis (TB)
d. Legionella species: gram-negative bacilli
e. Serratia marcescens: a gram-negative bacillus
and secondary invader in respiratory and burn
patients
f. Haemophilus influenzae: a gram-negative
bacillus
The aforementioned gram-negative organisms are often responsible for necrotizing forms of pneumonia.
A gram-positive bacillus
and causative agent of tuberculosis (TB)
Mycobacterium species
The presence of blood, sputum, or other medium provides protection for the organisms. ** It is for this reason that equipment must be thoroughly washed in soapy water and rinsed off before the decon- tamination process.**
Okay!
Autoclave (steam under pressure)
What are normal operatin levels?
Normal operating levels are 15 min at 121° C and 15 psig (2 atm).
What is one of the most dependable and practical methods for decontamination?
Heat in the form of steam
Autoclave (steam under pressure)
How does autoclave (steam under pressure) kill organisms?
Kills organisms by coagulation of the cell
protein.