Microbiology CH8 Flashcards
Prior to disinfection or sterilization, contaminated instruments must be:
a) soaked in instrument milk
b) boiled
c) cleaned
d) wiped with ether
c) Prior to being disinfected or sterilized, instruments must be cleaned to remove soil. This will ensure that all surfaces of the instrument are exposed to the disinfecting or sterilizing agent.
Disinfection involves:
a) the reduction of microorganisms on inanimate surfaces
b) the destruction of microorganisms on inanimate surfaces
c) the destruction and inhibition of microorganisms on any surface
d) the reduction of microorganisms on any surface
c) Disinfection destroys and inhibits microorganisms on any surface, living or inanimate.
Sterilization involves:
a) the reduction of microorganisms on inanimate surfaces
b) the destruction of microorganisms on inanimate surfaces
c) the destruction and inhibition of microorganisms on any surface
d) the reduction of microorganisms on any surface
b) Only inanimate objects can be sterilized, which kills microorganisms. (Living tissue can
be disinfected but not sterilized.)
The effectiveness of a sterilization method is based on:
a) temperature
b) destruction of bacteria
c) destruction of bacterial spores
d) destruction of viral spores
c) A sterilization method is judged effective if bacterial spores are destroyed. (Spores are
tougher to kill than the organisms themselves.) Viruses do not produce spores.
Sanitation can be described as:
a) destruction of bacteria and bacterial spores
b) reduction of bacteria and bacterial spores
c) destruction of viruses and viral spores
d) “clean enough to be healthy”
d) Sanitation is cleanliness, not the destruction or reduction of spores. It may involve some-
thing as simple as disposing of paper wrappers. Health is the issue here.
If a sterile package falls to the floor:
a) it may be wiped with alcohol and used
b) it must be removed from use
c) it may be used if the floor is clean
d) it may be used if the wrapping is linen
b) If a sterile package contacts something outside the sterile field (such as the floor), it is
considered contaminated and may not be used.
The presence of even one bacterium on an object in the sterile field means that the
object is:
a) bactericidal
b) antiseptic
c) contaminated
d) bacteriostatic
c) Contamination is a matter of the presence or absence of bacteria, not how much or how
many.
A chemical used to disinfect inanimate objects is a(n):
a) germicide
b) antiseptic
c) antibiotic
d) ester
a) Germicides are used to disinfect nonliving objects. Antibiotics are medications used to
treat infection.
A chemical used to disinfect living tissue is a(n):
a) germicide
b) antiseptic
c) antibiotic
d) alcohol
b) If a living tissue is to be disinfected, then an antiseptic is used.
To test the effectiveness of any sterilization method, one may:
a) attempt to culture bacteria from “sterilized” instruments
b) visually inspect the “sterilized” instruments
c) use heat-activated testing tape
d) keep records of any ensuing patient infections
a) If bacteria can be cultured from instruments that have supposedly been sterilized, the
method of sterilization is ineffective. The indicator tape or bags only testify that the
required temperature occurred, not that sterilization has necessarily been achieved.
The organism that may contaminate ophthalmic solutions, including fluorescein, and can destroy an eye in 48 hours is:
a) Herpes simplex
b) Haemophilus influenzae
c) Mycobacterium tuberculosis
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium known to contaminate eye drops. It is particularly destructive.
Which of the following might be least susceptible to contracting an eye infection?
a) A patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
b) A patient with recurrent erosion syndrome.
c) A patient wearing contact lenses.
d) A patient working in the public sector.
d) Patients whose immune systems are compromised (such as those with HIV) are more susceptible to any kind of infection. The person with recurrent erosion syndrome has a
break in the corneal epithelium, which creates an opening for infectious microbes. Wearing
contact lenses increases a person’s chances of contracting ocular infections by the mere
presence of a foreign body in the eye. Working with the public (versus never going out!)
increases the chances of contracting an infection, but of the four listed is the least susceptible.
The organization involved with ensuring employee health and safety is:
a) JCAHPO®
b) EOE
c) OSHA
d) HIPAA
c) OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor. It was created in 1970 for the purpose of ensuring safety (including health safety) in the workplace.
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard involves all of the following except:
a) use and disposal of sharps
b) one-time employee education
c) provision of personal protective equipment
d) provision of hepatitis B vaccines
b) Annual training is required.
Universal precautions are:
a) a method of infection control regulated by OSHA
b) a set of standards regulated by ANSI
c) a set of safety standards set by each clinic
d) a method of evaluating infection control
a) Universal precautions (previously known as standard precautions) were developed and
are regulated by OSHA. The universal precautions mindset considers body fluids (notably blood, semen, vaginal secretions, vitreous, and wound exudates) as potentially infectious.
