Water Quality and Chemistry Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real CIS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Water Quality and Chemistry Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the significance of bacterial endotoxin levels in rinse water?
Answer: Endotoxins survive sterilization and can cause pyrogenic reactions in patients
Bacterial endotoxins are extremely heat-stable and survive standard sterilization. If present on instruments, they can cause fever, hypotension, and septic shock.
How does a reverse osmosis system purify water for instrument processing?
Answer: By forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane that rejects dissolved solids, bacteria, and endotoxins
RO forces water under pressure through a membrane with pore sizes small enough to reject 95-99% of dissolved salts, bacteria, and endotoxins.
Why is biofilm formation in water distribution systems a concern?
Answer: Biofilms harbor bacteria that continuously contaminate water and resist standard disinfection
Biofilms are bacterial communities encased in protective matrix that continuously release bacteria and endotoxins while being highly resistant to standard disinfection.
What is the purpose of deionization in water treatment for sterile processing?
Answer: To remove dissolved ions through exchange, producing high-purity water with very low conductivity
Deionization uses ion exchange resins to replace dissolved ions with hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, producing water with very low dissolved solids.
What water quality testing should be performed regularly in sterile processing?
Answer: Bacteria counts, endotoxin levels, conductivity, pH, hardness, and chloride at defined intervals
Regular testing including bacteria, endotoxins, conductivity, pH, hardness, and contaminants must be performed and documented at defined intervals per AAMI guidelines.
How does steam quality affect sterilization effectiveness?
Answer: Poor quality steam with excessive moisture, non-condensable gases, or superheat prevents effective sterilization
Excessive moisture causes wet packs, non-condensable gases create unsterilized air pockets, and superheated steam has reduced moisture needed for effective microbial killing.