Endoscope Reprocessing Fundamentals Questions and Answers Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Endoscope Reprocessing Fundamentals Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the purpose of priming or purging channels with air after high-level disinfection?
Answer: To remove residual disinfectant and moisture
Purging channels with air removes residual disinfectant and moisture, preventing chemical injury to patients and reducing conditions for microbial growth during storage.
Which of the following environmental conditions is most critical for proper storage of reprocessed endoscopes?
Answer: Vertical hanging in a ventilated cabinet
Endoscopes should hang vertically in a ventilated cabinet to allow complete drying and prevent moisture accumulation that promotes microbial growth.
What term describes the process of removing all forms of microbial life, including spores, from an endoscope?
Answer: Sterilization
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores, providing the highest level of microbial kill.
According to the Spaulding Classification, flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes that contact mucous membranes are classified as:
Answer: Semi-critical devices requiring at minimum high-level disinfection
Flexible endoscopes are semi-critical devices per the Spaulding Classification because they contact intact mucous membranes and require at minimum high-level disinfection.
What is the primary hazard associated with glutaraldehyde exposure during endoscope reprocessing?
Answer: Respiratory and mucous membrane irritation with chronic sensitization
Glutaraldehyde vapors cause respiratory and mucous membrane irritation, and repeated exposure can lead to sensitization and occupational asthma.
What is the recommended action if the minimum effective concentration (MEC) test strip indicates the HLD has fallen below effective levels?
Answer: Discard the solution and replace with fresh HLD
When MEC testing shows the HLD is below effective concentration, the solution must be discarded and replaced; it cannot be reconstituted to a safe level.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the pre-cleaning step performed immediately after an endoscopic procedure?
Answer: To remove gross soil and prevent biofilm formation before formal reprocessing
Bedside pre-cleaning removes gross soil immediately after the procedure, preventing organic material from drying and hardening, which would make subsequent cleaning more difficult.