CBIC CBIC Sterilization and Disinfection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which level of disinfection is required for semi-critical medical devices that contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate sterile tissue?
- Low-level disinfection
- High-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Sterilization
- Intermediate-level disinfection
Correct answer: High-level disinfection
Semi-critical devices require high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores.
Question 2: According to the Spaulding classification, which category includes items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system?
- Non-critical
- Semi-critical
- Critical (Correct answer)
- Intermediate
Correct answer: Critical
Critical items penetrate sterile body sites and must undergo sterilization to eliminate all forms of microbial life.
Question 3: What is the minimum exposure time for steam sterilization (gravity cycle) at 250°F (121°C) for wrapped instruments?
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 45 minutes
Correct answer: 30 minutes
A gravity displacement steam cycle at 121°C requires a minimum 30-minute exposure time for wrapped items.
Question 4: Which chemical indicator type confirms that a sterilization process has achieved the required parameters (time, temperature, and steam)?
- Class 1 process indicator
- Class 3 single-variable indicator
- Class 5 integrating indicator (Correct answer)
- Class 6 emulating indicator
Correct answer: Class 5 integrating indicator
Class 5 integrating indicators respond to all critical sterilization variables and correlate to the performance of a biological indicator.
Question 5: Which of the following is the most reliable method to verify sterilization efficacy?
- Chemical indicator strips
- Bowie-Dick test
- Biological indicator using Geobacillus stearothermophilus (Correct answer)
- Temperature recording chart
Correct answer: Biological indicator using Geobacillus stearothermophilus
Biological indicators using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are the gold standard for verifying steam sterilization efficacy.
Question 6: What action should be taken when a biological indicator returns a positive result after sterilization?
- Repeat the biological indicator test only
- Release the load and retest
- Recall all items from that load and investigate (Correct answer)
- Increase sterilizer temperature for the next cycle
Correct answer: Recall all items from that load and investigate
A positive biological indicator indicates sterilization failure; all items from the load must be recalled and the sterilizer taken out of service for investigation.
CBIC CBIC Sterilization and Disinfection 1
Which level of disinfection is required for semi-critical medical devices that contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate sterile tissue?