Certified Surgical Technologist Basics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which term describes the process of transferring microorganisms from one surface to another via an intermediate object?
- Direct contact transmission
- Indirect contact transmission (Correct answer)
- Droplet transmission
- Airborne transmission
Correct answer: Indirect contact transmission
Indirect contact transmission occurs when microorganisms transfer via a contaminated intermediate object (fomite) rather than direct person-to-person contact.
Question 2: What is the minimum internal temperature required for steam sterilization in a standard gravity displacement sterilizer?
- 250°F (121°C) (Correct answer)
- 270°F (132°C)
- 212°F (100°C)
- 285°F (141°C)
Correct answer: 250°F (121°C)
Gravity displacement steam sterilizers operate at a minimum of 250°F (121°C), held for at least 30 minutes for wrapped instruments.
Question 3: The chain of asepsis is broken when a scrubbed team member:
- Faces the sterile field while moving around the table
- Keeps hands clasped above waist level between instrument passes
- Reaches below the level of the sterile drape to retrieve a fallen item (Correct answer)
- Accepts a sterile supply item dropped onto the back table
Correct answer: Reaches below the level of the sterile drape to retrieve a fallen item
Reaching below table level contacts the non-sterile zone; anything below the sterile drape edge is considered contaminated.
Question 4: Which surgical position is most commonly used for procedures on the spine, buttocks, and posterior lower extremities?
- Supine
- Lateral (lateral decubitus)
- Prone (Correct answer)
- Fowler's (sitting)
Correct answer: Prone
The prone position places the patient face-down, providing optimal access to the posterior surfaces of the body for spinal and dorsal procedures.
Question 5: A Penrose drain is classified as a:
- Closed suction drain
- Active drainage system
- Passive drain (Correct answer)
- Irrigation and drainage system
Correct answer: Passive drain
The Penrose drain is a soft rubber tube that drains by capillary action and gravity—a passive system with no suction mechanism.
Question 6: The purpose of a biological indicator (BI) in sterilization monitoring is to:
- Verify that the correct temperature was reached inside the sterilizer
- Confirm sterilization efficacy using the most resistant microorganisms (Correct answer)
- Check that the sterilizer door sealed properly during the cycle
- Monitor chemical changes on the outside of sterilization pouches
Correct answer: Confirm sterilization efficacy using the most resistant microorganisms
Biological indicators contain spores of highly resistant organisms (e.g., Geobacillus stearothermophilus) to confirm that sterilization conditions were lethal to all microorganisms.
Question 7: When draping a patient, the surgical technologist should unfold and place drapes in which direction?
- From the operative site outward toward the periphery (Correct answer)
- From the far side of the patient inward toward the incision site
- From head to foot starting at the incision site
- In any order as long as coverage is complete before the surgeon begins
Correct answer: From the operative site outward toward the periphery
Drapes are placed from the clean (operative site) outward toward the less-clean periphery to prevent contamination of the incision area.
Certified Surgical Technologist Basics 5
Which term describes the process of transferring microorganisms from one surface to another via an intermediate object?