Certified Surgical Technologist Aseptic Technique and Sterilization 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a procedure, the surgeon requests an additional instrument that has not been sterilized. The correct response is to:
- Flash sterilize it only if it will be used on intact tissue
- Refuse to provide it until proper sterilization is complete (Correct answer)
- Wipe it with a sterile towel and pass it to the surgeon
- Soak it in high-level disinfectant for 2 minutes
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which sterilization method uses peracetic acid and is suitable for immersible, heat-sensitive instruments in a liquid cycle?
- Ethylene oxide
- STERRAD (hydrogen peroxide plasma)
- STERIS System 1E (peracetic acid) (Correct answer)
- Dry heat sterilization
Correct answer: STERIS System 1E (peracetic acid)
The STERIS System 1E uses peracetic acid in a liquid sterilization cycle for immersible, heat-sensitive instruments.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a sterility maintenance cover (dust cover) on sterile packages after sterilization?
- To re-sterilize the outer wrap after transport
- To protect packaging from dust, moisture, and physical damage during storage (Correct answer)
- To indicate the sterilization cycle used
- To extend the sterilization date by 6 months
Correct 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.
Question 4: A scrub technologist notices a crack in the barrel of a syringe on the sterile field. What is the correct action?
- Continue use if only a hairline crack is present
- Reinforce with sterile tape and proceed
- Remove the defective syringe from the sterile field and replace it (Correct answer)
- Ask the surgeon whether to proceed
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is 'strike-through contamination' on a sterile field?
- Contamination from airborne particles falling onto the field
- Contamination caused by fluid soaking through a sterile barrier to non-sterile surfaces and back (Correct answer)
- Contamination from a team member's ungloved hands
- Contamination caused by expired sterilization indicators
Correct 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.
Question 6: When using ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization, why is an aeration period required after the cycle?
- To allow the items to cool to room temperature before handling
- To dissipate toxic EO residues before the item is safe for patient contact (Correct answer)
- To complete the chemical indicator color change
- To rehydrate moisture-sensitive items
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly describes the concept of 'event-related sterility'?
- Sterility expires after a fixed time period regardless of storage conditions
- Sterility is maintained until the package is opened or integrity is compromised by an event (Correct answer)
- Sterility is guaranteed only if chemical indicators are within date
- Sterility depends on the temperature of the storage room at all times
Correct 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.
Certified Surgical Technologist Aseptic Technique and Sterilization 5
During a procedure, the surgeon requests an additional instrument that has not been sterilized.
The correct response is to: