Decontamination

Question 1

What is Contamination (3)

Answer 1

• 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.

Question 2

What is Decontamination

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Describe the 8 Steps of The Decontamination Life Cycle CDIP TSUT

Answer 3

1. Cleaning
2. Disinfection
3. Inspection - might need to dispose
4. Packaging
5. Transport
6. Storage
7. Use
8. Transport

Question 4

What is a Reusable item?

Answer 4

Equipment which comes into contact with the patient or service user but which can be sterilised to be used again

Invasive medical devices

Question 5

How Do you Decontaminate?

Answer 5

in accordance with manufactures’ instructions and current national or local best practice guidance

Question 6

What does Inadequate Decontamination Allow?

Answer 6

transfer of Micro-organisms or bacterial endotoxins which may cause infection

transfer of Foreign protein which may cause adverse reactions

Question 7

What 8 Organisms have Higher Resistance to Decontamination in Order?

Answer 7

• Enveloped Viruses
• Gram + Bacteria
• Gram - Bacteia
• Fungi
• Non-Enveloped Bacteria
• Mycobacteria
• Bacterial Spores
• Prions

Question 8

What are the 3 Classifications of Risk, How do they Apply and How are you Recommended to Clean?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Define Cleaning

Answer 9

physically removes gross contamination, but does not necessarily destroy micro-organisms

Question 10

Describe 5 Possible Decontamination Methods

Answer 10

Autoclaving
Chemically disinfecting
Chlorine releasing agents
Low temperature steam washer/ disinfectors
Hydrogen peroxide vaporisation

Question 11

Define Disinfection

Answer 11

process used to reduce the number of micro-organisms but which may not destroy bacterial spores or some viruses.

Question 12

Process of Disinfection

Answer 12

chemical
heat

Question 13

What are Chemical Disinfectants Used For?

Answer 13

blood and fluid spillages
hard surface
equipment decontamination

Question 14

What Chemical is Commonly Used against Blood?

Answer 14

10,000 ppm sodium dichloraisocy-anurate NaDCC

Question 15

What 7 Chemicals can be Used for Disinfection?

Answer 15

Chlorine releasing agents
Alcohol based
Peracetic acid
Aldehydes
Hydrogen Peroxide
Superoxidised water (“sterilox”)
Chlorine Dioxide

Question 16

3 Pros of Chemical Disinfection

Answer 16

cheap
portable
sterilises in the right condition

Question 17

Cons of Chemical Disinfection

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How do you Use Chemical Disinfectants?

Answer 18

• clean to remove organic matter
• dilute accurately
• use correct time - too short = ineffective, too long = damage
• remove by rinsing

Question 19

Describe Thermal Disinfection, with 5 Pros and 2 Cons

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Define Sterilisation

Answer 20

a process used to make a reusable medical device free from viable Microbes including bacterial spores and viruses

Question 21

What are 3 Methods of Sterilisation

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Pros of Autoclave

Answer 22

Non-Toxic
Non-Corrosive
Highly Efficient
Highly Controlled
Automated

Question 23

What are the 2 Types of Autoclaves?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

How do you Destroy Prions?

Answer 24

20,000 PPM Sodium Hypochlorite for 1 hour

Question 25

What are Single-Use Devices, what is the Image of it?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What are the Risks of Re-using Single-Use Devices?

Answer 26

cross-infection

endotoxin reaction - excessive bacterial breakdown products

patient injury - device failure

chemical burns or sensation - residues from chemical decontamination on materials

Question 27

What is a Single Patient Use Device?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What does Infection Risk Depend on? (4)

Answer 28

• type of procedure
• effectiveness of decontamination
• environmental decontamination after processing
• susceptibility of infection to patient

Question 29

What must NOT be used on vomit or urine?

Answer 29

chlorine - releases chlorine gas

Question 30

What are 5 Low-Risk Body Fluids?

Answer 30

vomit
urine
sputum
faeces
sweat

Question 31

What are 3 Micro-Organisms found in Water Pipes

Answer 31

legionella species

mycobacterium avium

pseudomonas aeruginosa