Aseptic Technique and Sterilization Flashcards
7 cards from real CSFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aseptic Technique and Sterilization flashcards as text
When pouring sterile solutions onto the sterile field, the scrub person should hold the basin:
Answer: Near the edge of the sterile field to minimize splashing risk
Holding the basin near the edge of the sterile field allows the circulator to pour without reaching over sterile items and minimizes splashing.
What is the standard minimum wrap count for peel pouches used with steam sterilization?
Answer: Manufacturer instructions determine the wrap count
AAMI and AORN guidelines require adherence to manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU), which define pouch and wrap requirements for each device.
Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS), formerly called 'flash sterilization,' should be used:
Answer: Only as a last resort for an item needed immediately that cannot be processed otherwise
IUSS is intended only as a last resort when no sterile alternative is available, not as routine practice due to the lack of full quality controls.
During a procedure, an instrument falls below the level of the sterile drapes onto the floor. This instrument is:
Answer: Considered contaminated and must be removed from the sterile field
Any item that falls below the sterile field level is considered contaminated regardless of whether it visibly contacts the floor.
Which of the following is the correct technique when a scrubbed person must turn their back to pass behind another scrubbed person?
Answer: Pass back-to-back with the other scrubbed person
Scrubbed personnel pass back-to-back to keep their sterile fronts away from each other's backs, which are considered non-sterile.
A steam sterilization load fails a Bowie-Dick test. What is the correct response?
Answer: Remove the load from service, investigate the autoclave, and notify biomedical engineering
A failed Bowie-Dick test indicates inadequate steam penetration or air removal; all items in the load must be quarantined and the autoclave taken out of service for investigation.
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when handling items soiled with blood prior to decontamination?
Answer: Utility gloves, moisture-resistant gown, eye protection, and mask
Decontamination of soiled items requires utility (heavy-duty) gloves, a moisture-resistant gown, and face protection to guard against splashing of blood and body fluids.