decontamination

Question 1

What are the stages of the life cycle diagram for prcessing instruments

Answer 1

1. Acquisition
2. Cleaning
3. Disinfection
4. Inspection

(If fails inspection scrap or return)

5. Packaging
6. Sterilization
7. Transport
8. Storage
9. Use
10. Transport

Then repeat back to cleaning

Question 2

What are the reason for cleaning instruments

Answer 2

1) functionality of instruments

2) minimise spread of contamination

3) Prevent failed procedures

4) Achieve steam contact

5) legal requirement

Question 3

What are the stages of cleaning

Answer 3

Washer disinfector is the first step

Secondary/backup method is ultrasonic bath and manual cleaning

Question 4

When would you use steam sterilisers

Answer 4

After all vasible contamination is removed

Question 5

What is the best form of sterilisation

Answer 5

Vaccum (type B)

Question 6

When is manual cleaning carried outt

Answer 6

only if thres no other options

Question 7

What does the cleaning stage do

Answer 7

Removes proteins or prions (vCJD)

Question 8

If manual washing what is required

Answer 8

Wear adequate PPE

Use of sink that is dedicated to manual cleaning with a seperate sink for rinsing

Tap water temp at 30-35 so proteins dont coagulate

No splashing

Soft brstled brush used

Question 9

What does Ultrasonic bath not do

Answer 9

Does not disinfect

Question 10

What does the ultrasonic bath have potential to do and how do you prevent it

Answer 10

To damage the instrument so read manufactors instructions

Question 11

What is the operating temperature of the ultrasonic bath

Answer 11

20-30

Question 12

How do you fiil an ultrasonic bath and add the cleaning stuff

Answer 12

You can just use tap water and fill up to the line and then just add the chemical to the water to MI

Question 13

With the ultrasonic cleaner what must you do before any production cycles and why

Answer 13

the chamber must be filled with water and detergent
A standard production cycle should be ran with the chamber empty,except from the load carrier

The reason for this is that there are air/gas bubbles inside water normally and during the Ultrasonic process any bubbles created will collapse into the air bubbles This will effect the efficacy of the equipment and prevent proper cleaning of instrumentation

Question 14

What mustthe ultrasonic cleaner go through before use

Answer 14

Degas cycle

Question 15

What is done after the Ultrasonic cleaner is used

Answer 15

Put back into the washer disinfector

Question 16

What is the use of an ultrasonic bath

Answer 16

Cleans contaminants off the instruments

Question 17

What are the stages of the washer disinfector

Answer 17

Flush/Prewash – this stage saturates the contamination and removes gross contamination, temp.<35

Main wash – this stage is supplemented by detergent tomore effectively remove biological matter, temp. dependant on chemical used

Rinse – this stage removes any remaining residue, biological or chemical before disinfection, temp. <65

Thermal Disinfection – this stage actively kills microorganisms with the use of heated water, temp. 90-95

Drying – this stage uses hot air to remove any remaining moisture from the surface of the instruments, temp. 100

Question 18

What is the first step in the decontamination process

Answer 18

Using the washer disinfector

Question 19

What are the daily checks required with the washer disinfector

Answer 19

1. Check that the Sprays arms spin freely without obstruction
2. Check the spray jets are not blocked
3. Make sure there is no debris on the strainer/filter, and that there are no parts of instruments or any other potential blockage’s.
4. Check the condition of the door seal and wipe and clean if necessary
5. Verify there is a suitable amount of chemical in the reservoir
6. Record the disinfection temperature of the first cycle every day (commonly referred to as an ACT)

Question 20

What is the stage carried out after the washer disinfector

Answer 20

Inspection to check for any contaminents left

Question 21

Why is steam used in cleaning

Answer 21

Steam carries a massive amount of energy

It is a non-toxic component in the sterilisation process

The main ingredient is water which is readily available

There is no waste product except water

Small amounts of water creates lots of steam and in a small space creates high pressure

Question 22

In steam sterilisers what must be used

Answer 22

purified water

Question 23

What are the types of steam sterilisers

Answer 23

Type N (most basic)

Type B (most used)

Type S (specialised)

Question 24

Talk about the type N steriliser

Answer 24

Not entirely efficent

ONLY rigid steel/solid instuments with no pocket chanels or lumens

Cannot procces wrapped instruments

Makes instruments sterile but not to point of use

TEmp. of 134-137 for 3 mins

Question 25

Talk about the Type B steriliser

Answer 25

Creates a vaccum and puts steam in it

can process wrapped, channelled and lumened instruments, also process porous items such as cotton wool swabs

Creatse a -ve presssure where as the steam rushes in it expands into the chamber and is forced to contact all surfaces due to the vacuum effect, penetrating wrappings as well

Temp 134-137 for 3 mins

Question 26

Talk about the Type S steriliser

Answer 26

Washes and lubricates as well as sterilising

For specific instruments check MI

Question 27

What must be carried out daily for steam sterilisers

Answer 27

Checking door seals are intact and free from debris and Clean if necessary.

Verify the chamber is free from damage/debris/contamination or instruments from previous cycles

Verify the condition of the load carrier

Fill and drain the feedwater reservoir each day

Drain the used water reservoir each day

Question 28

What must be carried out for type B steam sterilisers

Answer 28

On a daily basis – A steam penetration test must be carried out using a test device such as a Bowie Dick test pack or a Helix

On a weekly basis –
An ‘Air Leakage Test’ must be ran
An Air Detector Function Test (ADFT) must be ran

Question 29

What is the sinners circle and what does it contain

Answer 29

It shows the 4 key elements that are required for a successful cleaning process:

Energy, temperature, chemicals, Time

Question 30

What is not used in decontamination

Answer 30

Chemical disinfectants

Question 31

what PPE to be worn during manual cleaning

Answer 31

apron, gloves, heavy duty gloves, visor