Module 5 Flashcards
A system that divides medical equipment into three risk-based categories: critical, semicritical, and noncritical.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Spaulding Classification
Equipment that must be free from all microbial contamination when it enters sterile tissue, bone, or the vascular system; a Spaulding Classification category.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Critical equipment
Equipment that should be free from all microorganisms (although small numbers of bacterial spores may be present) when it comes in contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin during use; a Spaulding Classification category.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Semicritical equipment
Equipment that does not need to be sterile, but it should only come into contact with intact skin; a Spaulding Classification category.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Noncritical equipment
The removal of foreign material (e.g., soil, organic material) from objects; required before disinfection and sterilization can occur since foreign material interferes with the effectiveness of these processes.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Cleaning
The use of friction produced by rubbing or scrubbing surfaces to clean equipment.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Manual cleaning
The use of a machine to remove debris and soil from equipment.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Mechanical cleaning
A type of mechanical cleaner that operates much like a dishwasher, using water and detergents to remove soil from equipment.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Washer-disinfectors
A type of mechanical cleaner that operates in a similar fashion to washer-disinfectors, applying water circulation and detergents to remove soil. These units can also apply a timed heat process (for example, 93°C [199°F], for ten minutes).
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Washer-decontaminators
A type of mechanical cleaner that operates using rotating spray arms for a wash cycle, followed by a steam sterilization cycle (140°C [285°F]).
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Washer-sterilizers
A type of mechanical cleaner that operates by sending ultrasonic waves through a liquid solution to disrupt bonds that hold soils to surfaces.
Ultrasonic cleaners
A type of mechanical cleaner that operates by exposing instruments, devices, and items to direct steam, under pressure, at specific temperatures (between 121°C [250°F] and 132°C [270°F]).
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Autoclaves
Thermal or chemical destruction of pathogenic and other types of microorganisms.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Disinfection
The stated amount of time a disinfectant needs in order to be effective against microorganisms; also known as “wet time” or “dwell time.”
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Contact time
The process by which all forms of microbial life are destroyed or eliminated.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Sterilization
The shortest possible time between a sterilized item’s removal from the sterilizer and its aseptic transfer to the sterile field.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS)
The department or area in a healthcare facility that processes and controls sterile and nonsterile medical equipment, supplies, and devices used in patient care.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Sterile processing
The visible monitors on equipment that indicate whether the correct sterilizing parameters were met.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Physical monitors
Devices used to detect potential sterilization process failures that could result from incorrect packaging, incorrect loading of the sterilizer, or malfunctions of the sterilizer.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Chemical indicators (CIs)
Test systems containing viable microorganisms providing a defined resistance to a specific sterilization process; provide information on whether necessary conditions were met to kill a specified number of microorganisms for a given sterilization process.
(ANSI/AAMI, ISO)
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Biological indicators (BIs)
A device with a defined resistance to a sterilization process used to routinely monitor sterilizer efficacy and perform qualification testing of sterilizers.
Section A: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices/Equipment
Process challenge device (PCD)