Microbiology and Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real CER practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Microbiology and Infection Control flashcards as text
Which water quality is recommended for the FINAL rinse of endoscopes after high-level disinfection to prevent recontamination?
Answer: Sterile water or filtered water meeting AAMI standards
Sterile water or filtered water meeting AAMI/AORN standards should be used for the final rinse to prevent reintroduction of waterborne microorganisms onto a disinfected scope.
An endoscope is identified as 'semi-critical' under the Spaulding classification. What is the MINIMUM required level of reprocessing?
Answer: High-level disinfection (HLD)
Semi-critical items contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin and require at minimum high-level disinfection, which eliminates all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial spores.
Which of the following BEST describes how biofilm protects embedded microorganisms from disinfectants?
Answer: The polysaccharide matrix limits disinfectant penetration and creates a protected microenvironment
Biofilm's extracellular polysaccharide matrix acts as a physical barrier that dramatically reduces penetration of disinfectants and creates protected microenvironments where organisms survive.
When testing an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER), which type of test verifies that all internal channels of the scope are receiving adequate flow during the reprocessing cycle?
Answer: Channel flow/pressure leak test
Channel flow or pressure testing verifies that irrigation fluid is reaching all internal lumens of the endoscope during AER reprocessing, ensuring no blocked channels are missed.
Which of the following statements about alcohol (70% isopropyl) as a disinfectant for endoscopes is CORRECT?
Answer: Alcohol is used as a drying agent after HLD but does not itself provide HLD
Alcohol (70% isopropyl or ethyl) is used to flush channels after rinsing to facilitate drying and inhibit waterborne organism growth, but it does not achieve HLD on its own.
A patient is diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) after undergoing bronchoscopy. Which characteristic of M. tuberculosis makes it more reprocessing-resistant than most vegetative bacteria?
Answer: Its thick, waxy mycolic acid-rich cell wall
Mycobacterium tuberculosis possesses a unique waxy cell wall rich in mycolic acids that renders it significantly more resistant to many disinfectants than typical gram-positive or gram-negative vegetative bacteria.
According to infection control principles, which action BEST interrupts the 'susceptible host' link in the chain of infection during endoscopy procedures?
Answer: Properly reprocessing endoscopes to eliminate pathogens before patient contact
Proper endoscope reprocessing targets the 'mode of transmission' and 'infectious agent' links, but presenting a clean scope to the patient effectively protects the susceptible host by eliminating the pathogen before contact.