Aseptic Techniques & Infection Control Flashcards

Under the Spaulding classification, how is an applanation tonometer tip categorized?

Answer: Semicritical

Tonometer tips touch mucous membranes (the corneal surface), so they are semicritical and need at least high-level disinfection.

Which ocular tissues carry the highest risk for transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) prions?

Answer: Retina and optic nerve

The retina and optic nerve are neural tissue and are classified as high-infectivity tissue for prions.

Which hand hygiene method is required after caring for a patient with Clostridioides difficile?

Answer: Soap and water handwashing

Alcohol does not kill C. difficile spores, so washing with soap and water is needed to remove them mechanically.

A scrub technologist gets a needlestick from a used instrument. What is the first action?

Answer: Wash the site with soap and water right away, then report the exposure

Wash right away and report promptly so post-exposure evaluation and any prophylaxis can start quickly.

What does a neutral zone (hands-free technique) achieve in the ophthalmic OR?

Answer: It avoids hand-to-hand passing of sharps to reduce injuries

Placing sharps in a designated zone instead of passing them hand to hand reduces percutaneous injuries.

Which OR environmental condition helps reduce surgical site contamination?

Answer: Positive pressure with about 20 air exchanges per hour

Positive pressure and frequent air exchanges push contaminants out of the OR and dilute airborne particles.

Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, who pays for the hepatitis B vaccine for an at-risk surgical technologist?

Answer: The employer, at no cost to the employee

OSHA requires employers to offer the hepatitis B vaccine free of charge to employees with occupational exposure.