Sterilization and Disinfection Flashcards
What is Disinfection?
• Reduction or destruction of most pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate (nonliving) objects
What is a Disinfectant?
• Chemical agents that reduce microbial load on inanimate objects
What is Sterilization?
• Elimination of all microbes on an inanimate object
What is an antiseptic?
Antiseptic
• Chemical agents that reduce microbial load or inhibit growth of microbes on living/animate
objects
What is Sterility?
Sterility
• Absence of all forms of microbial life only inanimate objects
What are environments that have low level contamination?
Low level
• Reception desks
• Offices
• Walls
• Doors
What are environments that have high level contamination?
High level contamination
• Kennels/housing
• Exam tables
• Operating tables/floors
What items need critical level disinfection?
Equipment, implants entering body sterile tissue, cavity, or blood stream, surgical instrument
What items need semi-critical level of disinfection?
Equipment that comes in contact with skin
or mucous membranes without penetrating body or cavity
- Colonoscopes, flexible endoscopes, endotracheal tubes, anesthetic equipment, vaginoscope
What items need non critical disinfection?
Equipment that comes in contact with intact skin or mucous membranes but not directly associated with surgery
Laryngoscope, stethoscope, ultrasound probe, blood pressure cuffs, ECG leads, pulse oximeters, exam tables
Which of the following items should be sterilized?
A.) Colonoscopes/ Endoscopes
B.) Surgical instruments
C.) Endotracheal tubes
D.) EKG leads
B surgical instruments
(they will be entering the body.)
Which of the following items requires semi critical disinfectant?
a. ) Ultrasound Probes
b. ) Surgical Implants
c. ) Endoscopes
d. ) Catheters
c.) endoscopes
Which of the following items requires non critical disinfectant?
a. ) Laryngoscope
b. ) Suture material
c. ) Vaginoscope
d. ) Urinary catheters
a.) laryngoscope
Should be disinfected but do not require reduce microorganisms but since sterility specific handling between is not maintained during procedure patients* Should be terminally cleaned sterility isn’t required. Te r m i n a l when done for the day
Does Isopropyl Alcohol disinfect bacteria? Virus? Fungi? Spores?
yes, yes, yes, no
Does povidone- iodine disinfect bacteria? Virus? Fungi? Spores?
yes (quickly), yes, yes, yes
Does chlorhexidine gluconate disinfect bacteria? Virus? Fungi? Spores?
yes (quickly), poorly, poorly, no
Does alcohol based solutions disinfect bacteria? Virus? Fungi? Spores?
yes , sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
How does alcohol help surgeons prior to surgery?
Helpful in removing excess lipids on the skin prior to
surgery
Is alcohol used as a cold sterile agent?
no
Is alcohol bacteriostatic or bacterocidal?
Activity
• Bactericidal (bacteriostatic at lower
concentrations)
• Kills many fungi and viruses
Which antiseptic is the most effective?
Povidone-iodine (PVI)
Which antiseptic is the least effective?
Chlorhexidine Gluconate
What is Povidone- iodine? Does it leave a residue?
Activity
• Bactericidal • Fungicidal • Effective against viruses • Sporocidal (15 min contact time)
• Minimal residue
• Effectiveness decreased in presence of organic
material
What is the concentration of iodine for wound management?
0.1 to 1% solution
What is the concentration of iodine for surgical prep?
10% scrub/solution
What is the activity of chlorhexidine gluconate?
- Activity
- Bactericidal (rapid; GM + > GM-) • Minimal activity against viruses and fungi • Not sporicidal
Does chlorhexidine leave a residue? Why? Is it easily inactivated?
- Residual activity due to keratin binding
- Not inactivated by organic debris, alcohol, or soaps