Aseptic Technique and Sterilization Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist 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
During a procedure, the surgeon requests an additional instrument that has not been sterilized. The correct response is to:
Answer: Refuse to provide it until proper sterilization is complete
Instruments must be properly sterilized before use; no shortcuts are acceptable for items entering sterile tissue, regardless of urgency.
Which sterilization method uses peracetic acid and is suitable for immersible, heat-sensitive instruments in a liquid cycle?
Answer: STERIS System 1E (peracetic acid)
The STERIS System 1E uses peracetic acid in a liquid sterilization cycle for immersible, heat-sensitive instruments.
What is the purpose of a sterility maintenance cover (dust cover) on sterile packages after sterilization?
Answer: To protect packaging from dust, moisture, and physical damage during storage
A sterility maintenance cover (dust cover) protects the sterile packaging from environmental contaminants and physical damage during storage and transport.
A scrub technologist notices a crack in the barrel of a syringe on the sterile field. What is the correct action?
Answer: Remove the defective syringe from the sterile field and replace it
Defective equipment must be removed immediately from the sterile field and replaced with an intact sterile item.
What is 'strike-through contamination' on a sterile field?
Answer: Contamination caused by fluid soaking through a sterile barrier to non-sterile surfaces and back
Strike-through contamination occurs when moisture passes through a sterile barrier to a non-sterile surface and wicks back, rendering the barrier non-sterile.
When using ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization, why is an aeration period required after the cycle?
Answer: To dissipate toxic EO residues before the item is safe for patient contact
EO gas is toxic; aeration is mandatory to allow residual EO and its byproducts to dissipate to safe levels before items contact patients.
Which of the following correctly describes the concept of 'event-related sterility'?
Answer: Sterility is maintained until the package is opened or integrity is compromised by an event
Event-related sterility means a package remains sterile until an event (tear, moisture, opening) compromises packaging integrity, not simply based on a fixed expiration date.