Decontamination Flashcards
What is Contamination (3)
- The soiling or pollution of inanimate objects or living materials with harmful (or) potentially infectious material
- The presence of micro-organisms on a surface or in a fluid or material
- State of having actual or potential contact with micro-organisms.
What is Decontamination
combination of processes and includes cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, according to the intended use of the device.
- to render a re-usable item safer for further use
Describe the 8 Steps of The Decontamination Life Cycle CDIP TSUT
- Cleaning
- Disinfection
- Inspection - might need to dispose
- Packaging
- Transport
- Storage
- Use
- Transport
What is a Reusable item?
Equipment which comes into contact with the patient or service user but which can be sterilised to be used again
Invasive medical devices
How Do you Decontaminate?
in accordance with manufactures’ instructions and current national or local best practice guidance
What does Inadequate Decontamination Allow?
transfer of Micro-organisms or bacterial endotoxins which may cause infection
transfer of Foreign protein which may cause adverse reactions
What 8 Organisms have Higher Resistance to Decontamination in Order?
- Enveloped Viruses
- Gram + Bacteria
- Gram - Bacteia
- Fungi
- Non-Enveloped Bacteria
- Mycobacteria
- Bacterial Spores
- Prions
What are the 3 Classifications of Risk, How do they Apply and How are you Recommended to Clean?
Low Risk
- items in contact with healthy skin or not in contact with patient
= cleaning
Medium Risk
- items In contact with intact skin of infected or immuno-comprismised patients
= sterilisation or disinfection
High Risk
- items in close contact with a break in skin or mucous membrane
= sterilisation
Define Cleaning
physically removes gross contamination, but does not necessarily destroy micro-organisms
Describe 5 Possible Decontamination Methods
Autoclaving
Chemically disinfecting
Chlorine releasing agents
Low temperature steam washer/ disinfectors
Hydrogen peroxide vaporisation
Define Disinfection
process used to reduce the number of micro-organisms but which may not destroy bacterial spores or some viruses.
Process of Disinfection
chemical
heat
What are Chemical Disinfectants Used For?
blood and fluid spillages
hard surface
equipment decontamination
What Chemical is Commonly Used against Blood?
10,000 ppm sodium dichloraisocy-anurate NaDCC
What 7 Chemicals can be Used for Disinfection?
Chlorine releasing agents
Alcohol based
Peracetic acid
Aldehydes
Hydrogen Peroxide
Superoxidised water (“sterilox”)
Chlorine Dioxide
3 Pros of Chemical Disinfection
cheap
portable
sterilises in the right condition
Cons of Chemical Disinfection
difficult to control
inactivated by organic matter and biofilm
may become contaminated
may damage equipment
requires rinsing
dependent on operater knowledge
fails if not used properly
How do you Use Chemical Disinfectants?
- clean to remove organic matter
- dilute accurately
- use correct time - too short = ineffective, too long = damage
- remove by rinsing
Describe Thermal Disinfection, with 5 Pros and 2 Cons
washer-disinfector
- holds water temp at 90º for 1 minute
- or 80º for 10 minutes
Pros
- operator safe
- wash and dry
- thermal disinfection
- consistent cycles
- can monitor it
Cons
- expensive
- maintenance
Define Sterilisation
a process used to make a reusable medical device free from viable Microbes including bacterial spores and viruses
What are 3 Methods of Sterilisation
Autoclave
- 134˚C-137˚C for 3 -3.5 minutes
- vacuum assisted or downward displacement
Sterrad
- Low temperature Hydrogen peroxide Gas Plasma
- for temp sensitive items
Ethylene Oxide
- Low temperature – Very delicate items
Pros of Autoclave
Non-Toxic
Non-Corrosive
Highly Efficient
Highly Controlled
Automated
What are the 2 Types of Autoclaves?
Type N - non-vacuum
- Air removal is achieved by passive displacement with steam.
Type B - vacuum
- designed to reprocess loads such as hollow, air retentive and packaged loads.
How do you Destroy Prions?
20,000 PPM Sodium Hypochlorite for 1 hour
What are Single-Use Devices, what is the Image of it?
A device designated as single-use must not be reused. It should only be used on an individual patient during a single procedure and then discarded. It is not intended to be reprocessed and used again, even on the same patient
A number 2 with a line across
What are the Risks of Re-using Single-Use Devices?
cross-infection
endotoxin reaction - excessive bacterial breakdown products
patient injury - device failure
chemical burns or sensation - residues from chemical decontamination on materials
What is a Single Patient Use Device?
This allows for a medical device to be re-used and re-processed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and to be used on the same patient only
What does Infection Risk Depend on? (4)
- type of procedure
- effectiveness of decontamination
- environmental decontamination after processing
- susceptibility of infection to patient
What must NOT be used on vomit or urine?
chlorine - releases chlorine gas
What are 5 Low-Risk Body Fluids?
vomit
urine
sputum
faeces
sweat
What are 3 Micro-Organisms found in Water Pipes
legionella species
mycobacterium avium
pseudomonas aeruginosa
