CIC Cleaning, Disinfection, & Sterilization 4

Question 1

Which action should an infection preventionist recommend when a sterilizer fails its biological indicator (BI) test?

Accepted Answer

Remove the sterilizer from service and recall items from the failed load

Answer

A failed BI requires immediate removal of the sterilizer from service and recall of items from the failed load per AAMI and CDC guidelines.

Question 2

The term 'log reduction' in disinfection refers to:

Accepted Answer

A tenfold reduction in the number of viable organisms

Answer

Each log reduction represents a 10-fold (90%) decrease in microbial count; a 6-log reduction eliminates 99.9999% of organisms.

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct order of reprocessing steps for a reusable semi-critical medical device?

Accepted Answer

Clean → Rinse → Disinfect → Rinse → Dry → Store

Answer

Proper reprocessing sequence is: clean, rinse, high-level disinfect, rinse with sterile or filtered water, dry, then store in a protected manner.

Question 4

Which practice is recommended to prevent biofilm formation in endoscope channels between reprocessing steps?

Accepted Answer

Flushing channels with air and alcohol immediately after each procedure

Answer

Immediate flushing of endoscope channels with air followed by 70% alcohol prevents biofilm formation and speeds drying before full reprocessing.

Question 5

What does the 'D-value' represent in sterilization science?

Accepted Answer

The time required to reduce organism count by 90% under specific conditions

Answer

The D-value (decimal reduction time) is the time required under defined conditions to reduce the microbial population by one log (90%).

CIC - Certification in Infection Prevention and Control Practice Test