Cleaning, Disinfection, & Sterlization - APIC Text Ch. 31 Flashcards
What are critical devices?
Medical devices that contact sterile tissue i.e., surgical instruments
What are semi critical medical devices?
Medical device that contact mucous membranes i.e., endoscopes
What are noncritical medical devices?
Medical devices that contact only intact skin i.e., stethoscopes
Why is properly cleaning and disinfecting reusable medical devices used in invasive medical procedures important?
The devices or instruments contact the patient’s sterile tissue or mucous membranes. When not properly cleaned and disinfected, there is a major risk due to the introduction of pathogenic microbes, leading to infection.
What is the Spaulding Classification System?
Divides medical equipment into 3 categories based on risk.
What are the 3 categories of the Spaulding Classification System?
Critical, sem critical, and non critical
What is the 4Th risk category for primary principles that guide the disinfection and sterilization process added by the Association for Advancement of Medical Instruments?
Environmental Surfaces
What are the 4 classifications of disinfection and sterilization according to the Advancement of Medical Instruments (AAMI)
Critical, semi-critical, noncritical, and environmental surfaces.
Define cleaning?
The removal of foreign material from objects.
Why is cleaning an important part of reprocessing?
Removal of foreign material is required before disinfection, and sterilization can occur so that the materials do not interfere with the effectiveness of these processes.
Why is the failure to properly clean and, disinfect, or sterilize reusable devices significant?
Not properly disinfecting or sterilizing devices after cleaning may lead to transmission via contaminated medical and surgical devices.
Why is environmental decontamination essential?
It plays a role in decreasing the bioburden and potentially Lowering rates of HAIs.
What are examples of environmental surfaces?
High-touched surfaces - countertops, bed rails, tray tables, door knobs, etc.
include items designated by the Spaulding Classification System as noncritical items.
What items should be sterilized?
Critical
What items require high-level disinfection?
Semi critical
What items require low level disinfection?
Semi critical
Note: Environment surfaces according to the AAMI
What level of microbial inactivation does Sterilization offer?
Destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores.
What method of temperatures are required for sterilization?
High temperature
Low temperature
Liquid immersion
What type of processing is available for high temperature sterilization?
Steam and dry heat
Examples of high-temperature sterilization applications in healthcare?
Heat-tolerant critical devices, I.e., surgical instruments.
Semi-critical patient care items.
What type of processing is available for low temperature sterilization?
Ethylene oxide gas
Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
Ozone
Hydrogen peroxy vapor
Examples of low-temperature sterilization applications in healthcare?
Heat-sensitive critical and semi-critical patient care items
What type of processing is available for liquid immersion sterilization?
Chemical sterilants include
>2% glut (~10 hr)
1.12% glut with 1.93% phenol (12 hr)
7.35% HP with 0.2% PA (3 hr)
8.3% HP with 7.0% PA (5 hr)
7.5% HP (6 hr)
1.0% HP with 8.8% PA (8 hr)
>0.2% PA (12 min @ 50-56*C
Examples of liquid immersion sterilization applications in healthcare?
Heat-sensitive critical and semi-critical patient care items that can be immersed
What level of microbial inactivation does high-level disinfection offer?
Destroys all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores.
What methods are required for high-level disinfection?
Heat automated
Liquid immersion
Examples of heat automated High-Level Disinfection applications in healthcare?
Heat-sensitive semi-critical items
I.e., respiratory therapy equipment
What type of processing is available for heat-automated high-level disinfection?
Pasteurization