Decontamination

Question 1

Outline the 5 stages for a typical washer-disinfector cycle.

Answer 1

1. Flush - removes gross contamination. water temperature < 45 degrees celcius is used to prevent protein coagulation and fixing of soil to the instrument
2. Wash - removes any remaining soil
3. Rinse - removes detergent used durinng the cleaning process
4. Thermal disinfection - temperature of the load is raised and held at the pre-set disinfection temperature for the required disinnfection holding time
5. Drying - purges the load and chamber with heated air to remove residual moisture

Question 2

What are the different types of sterilisation cycles?

(3)

Answer 2

Type N
Type B
Type S

Question 3

What is the Type N sterilisation cycle?

Answer 3

• non-vacuum
• passive air removal from the sterilising chamber by steam
• not suitable for wrapped loads

Question 4

What is the Type B sterilisation cycle?

Answer 4

• vacuum
• active (forced) air removal using a vacuum pump

Question 5

How often is the automatic control test (ACT) carried out?

Answer 5

Once per day

Question 6

What are the key roles in a safe decontamination service?

Answer 6

Management
* person accountable for the operation of the premises
* owner, occupier, employer or general manager

User
* person designated by mannagement to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the steriliser or washer-disinfector (WD)

Operator
* person with the authority to operate a steriliser or WD

Competent person
* person designated by management to exercise certain legal responsibilities with regard to the writtenn scheme of examination of any pressure vessel associated with a steriliser or WD

Test person
* person designated by management who has the appropriate experience and/or qualifications to carry out the validation and periodic testing of sterilisers/WDs

Maintenance person
* person designated by management to carry out maintenance duties on sterilisers and/or WDs, and repair work

Microbiologist
* appropriately qualified person designated by management to advise the user on microbiological aspects of disinfection and sterilisation

Authorising engineer
* person who provides independent auditing on washing, disinfecting and sterilisation of re-usable instrumennts and the use of WDs and sterilisers
* have direct contact with the user and other key personnel