Chap 11 - Decontamination, Sterilisation, & Disinfection Flashcards
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
An authoritative source of standards for sterilisation and disinfection.
Antisepsis.
reduction of microorganisms on skin or other tissue.
Bactericidal.
Able to kill bacteria.
Bacteriostatic.
Inhibiting (Stopping) the growth of bacteria.
Biofilms.
Dense colonies of bacteria that adhere tightly to surfaces.
Biological indicators.
quality control mechanism used in the process of sterilization. It consists of a closed system containing harmless, spore-forming bacteria that can be rapidly cultured after the sterilization process.
Cavitation.
A process in which air bubbles are imploded (burst inward), releasing particles of soil or tissue debris
Chemical sterilisation.
A process that uses chemical agents to achieve sterilisation.
Degerming (or degermination).
Reducing the number of microorganisms on human skin.
Mechanical (Degerming).
Sanitation is a ________ technique that removes some microbes and organic material.
How is sterilisation different from disinfection?
- Sterilisation is destructin of ALL forms of microbial life (including spores and viruses) on inanimate objects using physical or chemical agents.
- Disinfection is destruction of vegetative pathogens on inert substances - it removes toxins but not bacterial endospores - using physical or chemical agents (disinfectants).
Cleaning.
A process that removes organic or inorganic soil or debris using detergent and washing.
What is the minimum alcohol treatment?
70% (This concentration dissolves membrane lipis, disrupts cell surface tension and denatures protein).
HEPA is a type of sterilisation or decontamination.
Sterilisation (more specifically, filtration).
Define the type of process used in a quick alcohol swipe before a blood draw vs. a betadine swab before surgery.
Alcohol swipe = degerming/degermination of the skin using mostly mechanical processes (scrubbing).
Betadine swab = isodopher (complex of iodine & alchool) using a chemical process to kill germs on skin.
Cobalt-60 radiation.
A method of institutional bulk sterilisation used by manufacturers to sterilise prepackaged equipment using ionising radiation.
Contaminated.
Rendered nonsterile and unacceptable for use in critical areas of the body.
Decontaminated.
A process in which recently used and soiled medical devices, including instruments, are rendered safe for personnel to handle.
Detergent.
A chemical that breaks down organic debris by emulsification (separation into small particles) to aid in cleaning.
Disinfection.
Destruction of microorganisms by heat or chemical means. Spores usually are not destroyed by disinfection.
Enzymatic cleaner.
A specific chemical used in detergents and cleaners to penetrate and break down biological debris, such as blood and tissue.
Ethylene Oxide (OD).
A highly flammable gas that is capable of sterilising an object.
Event-related sterility.
- A wrapped sterile item may become contaminated by environmental conditions or events, such as a puncture in the wrapper.
- Event-related sterility refers to sterility based on the absence of such events.
- The shelf life of a sterilised pack is event related, not time related.
Evidence-based practice.
Methods and procedures proven to be valid by rigorous testing and professional research.
Exposure time
- This is the amount of time goods are held at a specific time, temperature, and pressure during a sterilisation process.
- Exposure time varies with the size of the load, type of materials being sterilized, and type of steriliser.
- Exposure time is sometimes called the hold time.
Fungicidal
Able to kill fungi.
Gas plasma sterilisation
A process that uses the form of matter known as plasma (e.g., hydrogen peroxide plasma) to sterilize an item. Also referred to as plasma sterilisation.
Germicidal.
Able to kill germs (bacteria).
Gravity displacement steriliser.
A type of steriliser that removes air by gravity.
High level disinfection (HLD).
A process that reduces the bioburden to an absolute minimum.
High-vacuum steriliser
A type of steam steriliser that removes air in the chamber by vacuum and refills it with pressurized steam. Also known as a prevacuum steriliser.
Inanimate.
Non-living.
Implant.
Defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “a device that is placed into a surgically or naturally formed cavity of the human body if it is intended to remain there for a period of 30 days or more.”
Immediate-use sterilisation.
- Items to be sterilised shortly before surgery must be processed so they are ready as close to the time of surgery as possible.
- This is referred to as immediateuse sterilization, previously called flash sterilisation
Non-woven.
A fabric or material that is bonded together as opposed to a process of interweaving individual threads.
Peracetic acid.
A chemical used in the sterilization of critical items.
Prion.
- Proteinaceous infectious particle, a unique pathogenic substance that contains no nucleic acid.
- The prion is transmitted by direct contact or ingestion and is resistant to all forms of disinfection and sterilisation normally used in the health care setting.
Reprocessing.
Activities or tasks that prepare used medical devices for use on another patient; these activities include cleaning, disinfection, decontamination, and sterilisation.
Reusable.
A designation used by manufacturers to indicate that a medical device can be reprocessed for use on more than one patient.
Sharps.
Any objects capable of penetrating the skin, causing injury.
Sanitation.
A method that reduces the number of bacteria in the environment to a safe level.
The following sterilisers uses peracetic acid.
Steris.
Which high level disinfectants could also be used as a sterilising agent?
Glutaraldehyde
Which type of sterilisation method requires an aeration?
ethylene gas.
Instrument trays have a perforated bottom so that:
Steam can circulate up through the tray and adequately cover all surfaces of the instruments.
Instruments that have _____________ must be disassembled before sterilisation.
removable parts
The __________ includes a workroom with ample table space for sorting instruments and assembling instrument sets.
Clean processing area.
The washer-steriliser or washer-disinfector is used to process all instruments that can tolerate.
Water turbulence and high pressure steam.
The ____________ is used to transport sterile and nonsterile instruments and equipment to and from the main operating room area.
case cart.
____________ is a skilled, certified profession requiring expertise in the science and practice of materials management, decontamination, and sterilisation.
Central processing.
Which body tissues presents a critical risk in the Spaulding system?
Vascular system.
The system that assigns a device a risk category based on the specific regions of the body where the device is used is the ____________ system.
Spaulding.
____________ is a chemical used to remove microorganisms on tissue.
An antiseptic
Organisation that oversees compliance with environmental and patient safety regulations.
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