CER Endoscope Reprocessing Fundamentals Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of priming or purging channels with air after high-level disinfection?
- To sterilize remaining organisms
- To remove residual disinfectant and moisture (Correct answer)
- To test channel patency
- To activate the disinfectant
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which of the following environmental conditions is most critical for proper storage of reprocessed endoscopes?
- High humidity to prevent drying
- Vertical hanging in a ventilated cabinet (Correct answer)
- Horizontal storage in a sealed bag
- Refrigerated storage below 40°F
Correct 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.
Question 3: What term describes the process of removing all forms of microbial life, including spores, from an endoscope?
- High-level disinfection
- Sterilization (Correct answer)
- Pasteurization
- Decontamination
Correct answer: Sterilization
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life including highly resistant bacterial endospores, providing the highest level of microbial kill.
Question 4: According to the Spaulding Classification, flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes that contact mucous membranes are classified as:
- Critical devices requiring sterilization
- Semi-critical devices requiring at minimum high-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Non-critical devices requiring low-level disinfection
- Critical devices requiring high-level disinfection only
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is the primary hazard associated with glutaraldehyde exposure during endoscope reprocessing?
- Risk of chemical burns only on skin contact
- Respiratory and mucous membrane irritation with chronic sensitization (Correct answer)
- Radioactive contamination
- Heavy metal poisoning
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the recommended action if the minimum effective concentration (MEC) test strip indicates the HLD has fallen below effective levels?
- Add more disinfectant concentrate to the solution
- Discard the solution and replace with fresh HLD (Correct answer)
- Extend the immersion time to compensate
- Continue using the solution for one more cycle only
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of the pre-cleaning step performed immediately after an endoscopic procedure?
- To achieve high-level disinfection at the point of use
- To remove gross soil and prevent biofilm formation before formal reprocessing (Correct answer)
- To sterilize the biopsy channel quickly
- To test for channel leaks
Correct 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.
CER Endoscope Reprocessing Fundamentals Questions and Answers 4
What is the purpose of priming or purging channels with air after high-level disinfection?