Ch8 - Housekeeping Tasks & Contamination Control

Question 1

What is the difference between sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization?

Answer 1

Sanitization = removing microorganisms
Disinfecting = destroys microorganisms or inhibits their growth and activity (ex. bleach, peroxigard)
Sterilization = destroys all microorganisms on, and inside an object (ex. autoclave)

Question 2

Which regulatory resource specifies the minimum cleaning standards for cages, feeders, and water bottles for many lab animals?

Answer 2

Animal Welfare Regulations

Question 3

What reporting task should a technician complete as part of a comprehensive pest control program?

Answer 3

Mouse feces in storage areas should be logged and reported immediately.

Question 4

Microorganisms that cause disease are called _____.

Answer 4

pathogens

Question 5

???what is the difference between saprophytes, bacteria, pathogens, and commensals?

Question 6

True or false: animal carcasses from healthy animals are considered hazardous waste.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

When using bleach to disinfect surfaces soiled with animal debris and organic matter, what must you be sure to do?

Answer 7

First remove debris before you clean the surface with a bleach solution

Question 8

Where should cleaning chemicals be stored?

Answer 8

In their original container, in a cool dry area, away from feed, bedding, drugs, or medical supplies.

Question 9

True or false: Special handling and decontamination of hazardous waste is more expensive and requires more labor, therefore it is important to make sure that you don’t discard nonhazardous waste with it, which would increase the cost of disposal

Answer 9

True

Question 10

True or False: Radiological waste and biological waste can both be disposed of in hazardous waste

Answer 10

False; radiological waste is hazardous, while biological waste is nonhazardous

Question 11

True or False: If two animal rooms house the same species, they can share a mop, broom, and other cleaning implements

Answer 11

False; there might be different pathogens in each room that you don’t want to spread

Question 12

What are the 4 most common types/groups of microorganisms found in the animal care facility?

Answer 12

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

Question 13

Give one reason why you must remove organic matter such as hair, saliva, urine and feces before disinfecting a surface.

Answer 13

Some sanitizing chemicals are inactivated in the presence of organic matter, or encrusted matter may trap and shield the microorganisms from contact with sanitizers

Question 14

What document provides info on how to handle or safely work with a substance?

Answer 14

The safety data sheet (SDS)

Question 15

True or False: returning escaped animals to their home cage is a good component of pest control.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

List 3 means of sterilizing items that can’t be autoclaved.

Answer 16

Irradiation, dry heat sterilization, exposure to ethylene oxide or hydrogen peroxide gas, chemical sterilants

Question 17

What are important factors in deciding how often to change animal cages?

Answer 17

The number of animals in a cage, the cage size, and the type of bedding used

Question 18

What is a term or a bacteria that has formed a tough outer coat for protection against harsh enviornmental conditions?

Answer 18

A spore

Question 19

What is containment?

Answer 19

Animal housing where the goal is to prevent an experimental infectious agent from spreading to the entire colony and instead remaining within the infected population