chpt 21 instrument processing and sterilization Flashcards
classification of patient care items
critical, semi-critical, non-critical
critical instruments
touch bone or penetrate soft tissue, risk of disease transmission is high
semi-critical instruments
touch mucous membranes or non-intact skin
ex. mouth mirror, spatulas
non-critical instruments
contact intact skin only, least risk of transmission
instrument processing area is also known as
sterilization area
proceed in a single loop/linear flow from
dirty, “clean”, sterilized
there are seven steps for instrument processing which are
transport, cleaning, packaging, sterilization, storage, delivery, quality
we transport instruments to processing area using
appropriate ppe, rigid leak proof container, minimize risk of exposure
us of a hands free process such as ____ or ____ is recommended
ultrasonic cleaner, instrument washer
an ultrasonic cleaner is used only to
loosen and remove debris from instruments
an ultrasonic cleaner produces
sound waves, cavitation
cavitation is
formation of bubbles in liquid
how do you test an ultrasonic cleaners performance
foil test
what is a foil test
aluminum foil submerged in fresh solution
the foil test is successful if
the foil is evenly marked with tiny pebbling effect
manual cleaning is the
least desirable method for pre cleaning
instruments must be dried before
packaging
each instrument pack must have an
external class1 process indicator and an internal chemical indicator 4 or 5
each package of instruments must be labelled with
date, sterilization load number, name
5 acceptable sterilization techniques
steam (autoclave), chemiclave, dry heat, ethylene oxide vapour & gas plasma, and chemical-liquid sterilants
autoclave operates at
121 degrees Celsius
we should store sterilized instruments in what condition
clean & dry
when bacteria from the air or contaminated surfaces surfaces are drawn inward through wet packaging
wicking
mechanical monitoring
measure and record time, temp, pressure
chemical monitoring
change in colour when physical parameter is met
process indicators are
internal
process integrators are
external
biological monitoring
spore test
class I indicators
process indicators, respond to heat only, used to identify pack to be processed
class II indicators
bowie dick test, demonstrate fast and even penetration of steam
class III indicator
responds to a single parameter (temp OR pressure)
class IV (4) indicator
multi parameter indicator
class V (5) indicator
affected by time, temp and saturated steam. MUST be used with implantable devices
class VI (6) indicator
testing specific sterilization cycles
chemical indicators do not prove sterilization has occurred. this is the function of
biological monitors
