Intro to Surg Nursing Flashcards
The primary goal of the surgeon
is the correction of dz
The primary goal of the technician
is the patient’s life
One celled organisms that is not a surgical concern and can cause post op problems
Ex: Coccidosis, Toxoplasmosis
Protozoa
Plants that exist as parasites due to their inability to synthesize their own food and can cause skin dz
Fungi
Improper cleaning of _________ or ________ can cause contamination of internal organs
ET tubes; insturments
This microbe is a MAJOR concern when cleaning and sterilizing
Many are opportunistic
Bacteria
The prevention of hospital-acquired infections is the desired result of
aseptic technique
Forms as a result of lack of circulation to a tissue
Decubital ulcer aka bed sore
You can eliminate or control the source of dz with 3 things
- Isolation
- Quarantine
- Euthanasia
You can increase the host’s ability to resist dz with 3 things
- Adequate diet
- Therapeutic agents
- General hygiene
You can prevent transmission of microbes by doing 3 things
- Washing hands
- Adequate ventilation
- Physical and chemical control
3 types of physical sterilization
- Filtration
- Radiation
- Heat
This is commonly used in pharmaceuticals by using a filter to separate particulate matter from liquids or gases
Filtration
This is primarily used during production and packaging of certain surgical products such as some gloves and suture materials
Radiation
3 types of radiation
- Ultraviolet
- Gamma
- Beta
This type of radiation is used for surfaces and disinfecting air
Also causes a drying effect and causes mutation of nucleic acid of microorganisms
Can damage cornea and cause skin cancer
Ultraviolet
This type of radiation is rapid and continuous and used with vaccines, biologicals, and gloves
Gamma
This type of radiation is used in prepackaged suture material, gloves, and rubber tubing
Beta
2 types of heat used in sterilization
Dry and moist
This type of heat is accomplished by boiling/steam under pressure
Kills microbes by coagulating critical cellular proteins
Moist
This type of heat is more difficult to control
Kills microbes by protein oxidation and the sterilization time is longer
Used with oils, powders, and petroleum products
Dry
This method of moist heat only sanitizes, doesn’t sterilize
Increase sanitization with detergent
Ex: automatic dishwashers, clothes washers
Hot Water
For hot water to be effective, what temp should it be at?
60 C, 140 F
This type of moist heat disinfects, not an effective method of sterilization because it requires 3 hrs
Boiling water
Boiling for how long will destroy vegetative bacteria
10 min
Max temp for boiling
100 C, 212 F
This type of moist heat has large scale use such as cleaning stainless steel cages because it effectively disinfects
Free Flowing Steam
This type of moist heat is used with autoclaves and pressure cookers
Steam Under Pressure
When this tool is used properly, kills ALL forms of microbial life including spores and cysts
Autoclaves
Pressure in the steam jacket in the autoclave jacket rises to
15 psi
Temperature should be set for this on an autoclave
250-270 F
What is the ideal time to autoclave instruments? The minimum?
30 mins ideally
15 minimum
The door of the autoclave should be open at
212 F, 0 psi
You should allow items from the autoclave to dry for
1 hr
What type of water should be used in an autoclave?
Distilled/deionized
Flash sterilization can be done in
3-4 min
PSI for flash sterilization
32
This type of dry heat gives complete destruction of materials and only used on non-reusable items or those of no value
Material must be completely reduced to ashes
Incineration
These are a dry heat method used for sterilization
It is economical and will not dull sharp objects, but it takes longer and you can’t use paper or cloth
Hot Air Ovens
A chemical classification used for soaking instruments for sterilization in a cold tray
STERILITY IS NOT GUARANTEED
Liquid
Liquid sterilization is used for what type of procedures?
“dirty” or minor (feline neuters, lacerations)
When soaking instruments in a cold tray, they should sit for a minimum of?
Ideally?
15 mins minimum
3 hrs ideally
How often should solution in a cold tray be changed?
q 2 weeks, or more often if it gets dirty
2 most common liquids used in cold trays
- Gluteraldehyde
2. Chlorhexadine
This type of chemical classification is used on items that can’t tolerate high temps or steam
Ex: Ethylene Oxide and Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma
Gases
This gas is used primarily in industries, institutions, and military
Inactivates DNA and prevents cellular repro
Uses lower heat and provides excellent
Ethylene Oxide
Disadvantages of the use of this gas are: slow, explosive, flammable, and poisonous
EO
This is used more commonly to replace EO and it’s safer for personnel and environment
Can’t penetrate walls of hollow instruments
Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma
How long should something sit in Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma?
About an hr
This is required with everything you sterilize
Sterilization indicators
This type of sterilization indicator that responds to time and temperature by a color change (blue to brown)
Chemical
Where should a chemical indicator be placed in a pack?
Middle/outer part of pack
This type of indicator only responds when exposed to heat and does not indicate sterility
Autoclave tape
This type of indicator is impregnated with Bacillus Stearothermophilus
Used as a quality control agent to test autoclaves
Biological indicator
To sterilize an inanimate object, you use a
disinfectant
To sterilize animate objects, you use
antiseptic
This type of disinfectant has the same use as a pre-op scrub for hands especially if allergic to chlorhexadine or iodine
Contains carbolic acid-hexachlorophene
Phenols
Some lysol products contain
phenols
A disinfectant that should NEVER be mixed with bleach
Forms a toxic cloud if used in a large amount which can cause asthma attacks and instant death
Effective against bacteria, not spores or viruses
Ex: Roccal, Benzalkonium Chloride
Quaternary ammonium
A disinfectant that is toxic and irritating, used mainly for fixing tissue for pathology tests
Ex: Formaldehyde and Gluteraldehyde
Aldehydes
This type of disinfectant that evaporates readily, leaves no residue, chills pt, but should never be used on open wounds
Ineffective against sports and fungus
Ex: Ethyl and Isopropyl
Alcohols
Type of alcohol used on a patient as a final paint
50%/70% Isopropyl/Ethyl
Type of alcohol that should not be used on patient
Used to disinfect sutures and diluted with H2O
99% Isopropyl
Disinfectant that was one of the first types used
Common surface disinfectant
Broad bactericidal and virucidal properties, but toxic at improper dilutions
Ex: Sodium Hypochlorite (BLEACH)
Chloride compounds
Dilution of chloride compound that effectively kills viruses
1:30
An antiseptic used only on intact skin, but not common in vet med
Iodines
An antiseptic iodine that must be greatly diluted to use on living tissue, can be cytotoxic but greater bactericidal activity
Aqueous solutions
An antiseptic iodine that is combined with a carrier molecule that slowly releases free iodines
Staining and irritation is lower and delivery of iodine to tissues is greater
More commonly used in vet med
Ex: Povidine
Idophors
An Biguanides antiseptic found in Nolvasan that can be used on living tissue and when diluted can be used as a wound lavage
Chlorhexadine
Nolvasan that is used on surfaces ONLY
Nolvasan-S
What does the S stand for in Nolvasan-S
scented
Nolvasan scrub used for pre op
Used on patients and surgeons hands
Detergent
