Principles and Maintenance Questions and Answers 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 Principles and Maintenance Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the consequence of exposing an endoscope to a disinfectant solution below the MRC?
Answer: Inadequate microbial kill, creating a risk of transmitting infection between patients
Below-MRC disinfectant cannot reliably achieve high-level disinfection, creating a direct risk of organism transmission to subsequent patients.
When transporting a used endoscope from the procedure room to the reprocessing area, the scope must be:
Answer: Placed in a closed, puncture-resistant, leak-proof container labeled as a biohazard
Biohazard-labeled, closed containers prevent cross-contamination and protect staff during transport of potentially infectious equipment.
Which step must be completed before immersing an endoscope in high-level disinfectant for the first time in a reprocessing cycle?
Answer: Performing a leak test to confirm the scope is structurally intact
Leak testing must occur before HLD immersion to prevent reprocessing chemicals from entering a damaged scope and causing irreparable internal damage.
What is the purpose of flushing endoscope channels with 70% isopropyl alcohol at the end of the reprocessing cycle?
Answer: To facilitate drying by displacing residual water from internal channels
Alcohol displaces residual water from internal channels, promoting rapid drying and inhibiting microbial growth during storage.
Which practice is required when testing a high-level disinfectant solution with chemical test strips?
Answer: Testing before each use per manufacturer instructions, recording results, and discarding below-MRC solution
Consistent pre-use testing with documentation ensures the disinfectant maintains effective concentration and provides an auditable quality record.
What is the primary risk of using unfiltered tap water for the final rinse of a reprocessed endoscope?
Answer: Tap water may harbor waterborne pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or nontuberculous mycobacteria
Tap water can harbor waterborne organisms that recontaminate a properly disinfected endoscope, leading to patient infections.
Which best describes the standard of guidance governing endoscope reprocessing practice in US healthcare settings?
Answer: Multi-society guidelines from SGNA, AAMI, APIC, and ASGE/ACG interpreted together with the device IFU
Best practice requires integrating complementary guidelines from multiple professional societies alongside the device-specific manufacturer IFU.