Decontamination Science Intro

Question 1

What GDC requirement applies to decontamination sciences?

Answer 1

Standard 1.5: You must treat patients in a hygienic and safe environment (health and safety, decontamination, medical devices)

Question 2

What is an operator defined as?

Answer 2

Any person with the authority to operate a sterilizer/washer disinfector including the noting of device readings and simple housekeeping duties

Question 3

What must be done to prove decontamination has taken place?

Answer 3

Record keeping - if it isnt documented then it didn’t happen

Question 4

What are the classes in the Spaulding classification?

Answer 4

-Critical -Semi-critical -Non-critical

Question 5

What is a critical device in the Spaulding classification and how must they be cleaned?

Answer 5

Devices that enter tissue that is usually sterile or enters the vascular system (e.g. PDL) These instruments must be sterile

Question 6

What is a semi-critical device in the Spaulding classification and how must they be cleaned?

Answer 6

Instruments that have contact with intact mucous membranes but does not penetrate sterile tissue Sterile is preferable/high level disinfectant

Question 7

What is a non-critical device in the spaulding classification and how should it be cleaned?

Answer 7

Instruments that have contact with intact skin only Should be disinfected/cleaned

Question 8

What classification would a dental mirror be?

Answer 8

Semi-critical

Question 9

Why do we need sterile instruments?

Answer 9

-Reduces probability of infection transmission -gives international standard for surgical instruments -Maintains high quality care for patients

Question 10

What does sterile mean?

Answer 10

For a medical device to be designated ‘sterile’, the theoretical probability of there being a viable micro-organism present on/in the device shall be equal to or less than 1x10-6

Question 11

What is the life cycle of re-usable surgical instruments?

Answer 11

-Cleaning -Disinfection -Inspection -Packaging -Packaging -Sterlization -Transport -Storage -Use -Transport

Question 12

Why should we be concerned with blood borne viruses on surgical instruments?

Answer 12

Prions are more difficult to inactivate on surgical devices Infectivity can survive steam sterilization at 134degrees celcius for 18minutes