Don't Procrastinate or your Proteins Will Coagulate

Question 1

What is involved in the decontamination and sterilization process

Answer 1

sufficient means of transportation of instruments (both clean and contaminated)

an automated reproducible process for cleaning and disinfection

thorough inspection

support the process with the use of other pieces of equipment

all our instruments must be processed through a sterilizer

Question 2

What is the processing cycle/life cycle

Answer 2

1. storage
2. use
3. transport (transport container)
4. cleaning (ultra sonic and washer disinfection)
5. disinfection (washer disinfector)
6. inspection (illuminated magnifier)

Question 3

What are factors that can impact the process

Answer 3

time 
temperature
chemicals
water
energy

Question 4

How does time effect the decontamination cycle

Answer 4

any blood or biological matter can start to dry in and adhere to the surface of the instrument

best course of action is to have the shortest amount of time between use and processing

Question 5

What is the sinner circle

Answer 5

it is the 4 key elements that are required for successful cleaning
energy, chemicals, temperature, time

Question 6

How is water a key factor

Answer 6

tap water cannot be used for sterilisers
a mixture of hot and cold water can be used for ultra sonic and manual cleaning
the washer disinfector can have cold and maybe hot connections as well

Question 7

What are things that the impact conductivity of water (also referred to as total dissolved solids)

Answer 7

water picks up particulates

minerals, silicates, organics, metals

Question 8

What are minerals that can be found in the tap water

Answer 8

calcium and potassium

Question 9

What are the silicates that can be found in tap water

Answer 9

sand, glass, rock

Question 10

What are the organics seen in tap water

Answer 10

vegetation, colloidal particle

Question 11

What metals are seen in tap water

Answer 11

iron, zinc, tin, mercury

Question 12

What is pure water

Answer 12

refer to distilled, de-ionised, reverse osmosis and sterile

used for sterilization process

Question 13

What are detergents that can be used

Answer 13

high and low alkaline detergent
enzymatic detergent
ph neutral detergent

Question 14

What are high and low alkaline detergent for

Answer 14

enclosed processes

not for skin contact

Question 15

What are enzymatic detergents for

Answer 15

breaking down protein into smaller particles

generally used in the ultrasonic but can be used for manually washing

Question 16

What are the ph neutral detergents for

Answer 16

less harmful to skin

used for manual washing as high chance of skin contact

Question 17

How do detergents work

Answer 17

the chemical molecule within detergents is designed to have hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends

one end repels water and the other is attracted to it

the hydrophobic end never contacts water because of the repulsion

this is where the contamination is drawn to and then flushed away as the hydrophilic end attaches to water molecules

Question 18

How does detergents impact validation

Answer 18

the chemicals we use must be validated against the cycle and if we change the chemical then the cycle must be re-validated

cycle times are established based on cleaning efficacy of the chemical during the validation or periodic testing of the machine

manufacturers instructions should be followed for dosing volume and operating temperature of chosen detergent

Question 19

What does energy refer to

Answer 19

force used for cleaning and contact

Question 20

What are examples of energy in cleaning

Answer 20

scrubbing with a brush

in the ultrasonic bath the force comes from high frequency sound waves causing cavitation

the washer disinfector uses high pressure water jet or spray

Question 21

The force in WD is less, how do we supplement this

Answer 21

use stronger chemicals such as high alkaline as its an enclosed process so the operator doesn’t have to come in contact with

Question 22

What are temperate influenced by

Answer 22

chemicals being used

for primary stages it must be below 35 degrees (during the flush stage, manual washing or in the ultrasonic)

Question 23

Why are temperatures different for the disinfection and sterilization stages

Answer 23

the temperature and times have already been established and must be achieved

Question 24

What are the temperature and times for thermal disinfection

Answer 24

90-95 degrees

1 minute minimum

Question 25

What are the temperature and times for steam sterilization

Answer 25

134-137 degrees

3 minutes minus

Question 26

What are the temperature for ultrasonic and manual cleaning

Answer 26

<35 degrees

Question 27

What is the temperature for the washer disinfector temperature

Answer 27

<65