CMDRT CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Point-of-Use Treatment and Transport Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended maximum time between point-of-use treatment and initiation of the decontamination process?
- There is no time limit if instruments are kept in a closed container
- Instruments should be reprocessed as soon as possible; extended delays increase biofilm risk and complicate cleaning (Correct answer)
- 48 hours if instruments are kept moist
- 24 hours regardless of moisture status
Correct answer: Instruments should be reprocessed as soon as possible; extended delays increase biofilm risk and complicate cleaning
Instruments should be decontaminated as soon as possible after use, as delays allow biofilm formation and organic material hardening, which compromises cleaning effectiveness.
Question 2: A sharps injury during transport most commonly occurs due to which situation?
- Instruments that are too heavy to carry safely
- Improperly secured sharps (e.g., needles, blades) in transport containers or containers that are overfilled (Correct answer)
- Sterile instruments that were not properly labeled
- Instruments transported in vacuum-sealed packaging
Correct answer: Improperly secured sharps (e.g., needles, blades) in transport containers or containers that are overfilled
Needlestick and sharps injuries during transport often result from unsecured sharps, overfilled containers, or failure to use puncture-resistant containers.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes an enzymatic presoak or spray used at the point of use?
- A high-level disinfectant that kills all microorganisms
- A proteolytic or multi-enzyme solution that begins breaking down proteins and organic debris to facilitate cleaning (Correct answer)
- A sterilizing agent approved for terminal processing
- An EPA-registered disinfectant that meets OSHA standards
Correct answer: A proteolytic or multi-enzyme solution that begins breaking down proteins and organic debris to facilitate cleaning
Enzymatic presoaks contain proteases and other enzymes that begin digesting blood, tissue, and other organic debris, making manual and automated cleaning more effective.
Question 4: How should instruments with lumens (channels) be handled at the point of use?
- Capped immediately to prevent contamination of the lumen
- Flushed with water or enzymatic solution to prevent lumen soil from drying (Correct answer)
- Left open and dry until returned to the SPD
- Autoclaved at the point of care before transport
Correct answer: Flushed with water or enzymatic solution to prevent lumen soil from drying
Lumened instruments should be flushed at the point of use to prevent organic material from drying inside channels, where it is extremely difficult to remove during cleaning.
Question 5: During transport, why should contaminated instruments be kept separate from clean and sterile items?
- To reduce the weight of transport carts
- To prevent cross-contamination, which could compromise the sterility or cleanliness of reprocessed items (Correct answer)
- Because regulatory agencies charge fees if they are mixed
- To make inventory counting easier
Correct answer: To prevent cross-contamination, which could compromise the sterility or cleanliness of reprocessed items
Separation of contaminated and clean/sterile items during transport prevents cross-contamination, which is a foundational principle of infection prevention in sterile processing.
Question 6: What role does a transport log or tracking system play in point-of-use instrument management?
- It is used only for billing and has no safety relevance
- It provides accountability and traceability, allowing the department to track instrument location, timing, and handling for quality assurance (Correct answer)
- It replaces the need for instrument count documentation in the OR
- It is required only for robotic surgical instruments
Correct answer: It provides accountability and traceability, allowing the department to track instrument location, timing, and handling for quality assurance
Transport tracking systems ensure accountability, support root cause analysis if instruments are missing or inadequately processed, and contribute to overall quality management.
CMDRT CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Point-of-Use Treatment and Transport Questions and Answers 2
What is the recommended maximum time between point-of-use treatment and initiation of the decontamination process?