CSFA Aseptic Technique and Sterilization 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which area of a wrapped sterile package is opened first when presenting to the scrub technologist?
- The side nearest the scrub person
- The far flap, away from the scrub person (Correct answer)
- Either side, as long as sterility is maintained
- The bottom flap, folding downward
Correct answer: The far flap, away from the scrub person
Opening the far flap first prevents the circulator's arm from passing over the sterile field when opening subsequent flaps.
Question 2: What chemical class do most high-level disinfectants (HLDs) used for endoscopes belong to?
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Alcohols
- Glutaraldehydes or ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) (Correct answer)
- Phenolics
Correct answer: Glutaraldehydes or ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)
Glutaraldehyde and OPA are the primary HLDs used for endoscopes because they achieve high-level disinfection of semi-critical devices.
Question 3: A package sterilized by steam autoclave has a wet outer wrap upon removal. What should be done?
- Re-wrap and label as sterile if no breach is visible
- Allow to dry inside the autoclave before use
- Consider it unsterile and reprocess (Correct answer)
- Use immediately since steam was the sterilizing agent
Correct answer: Consider it unsterile and reprocess
Wet packaging indicates condensation compromise and potential strike-through contamination, requiring the package to be reprocessed.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a chemical indicator (CI) placed inside a sterilization pack?
- Confirm the pack was exposed to the sterilant parameters (Correct answer)
- Replace the need for biological indicators
- Indicate the number of sterilization cycles completed
- Verify the item was cleaned before sterilization
Correct answer: Confirm the pack was exposed to the sterilant parameters
Internal CIs confirm that the sterilizing agent penetrated the pack and reached the intended parameters during the cycle.
Question 5: Which of the following actions violates aseptic technique during surgical draping?
- Draping from the incision site outward
- Holding drapes above waist level during placement
- Reaching across the unsterile side to adjust a drape (Correct answer)
- Unfolding drapes away from the sterile field
Correct answer: Reaching across the unsterile side to adjust a drape
Reaching across an unsterile area contaminates the sterile glove and gown, violating aseptic technique.
Question 6: What is the recommended action when a circulating nurse must hand a sterile item to a scrubbed person?
- Pass it directly hand-to-hand quickly to minimize exposure
- Drop or flip it onto the sterile field without touching the inner contents (Correct answer)
- Place it on the back table after glancing at the field
- Unwrap it and set it on any available surface near the field
Correct answer: Drop or flip it onto the sterile field without touching the inner contents
The circulator must present the sterile item so the scrubbed person can retrieve it without the non-sterile packaging touching the sterile field.
Question 7: Which sterilization process requires aeration time after the cycle to remove toxic residue?
- Steam sterilization
- Hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization
- Ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization (Correct answer)
- Dry heat sterilization
Correct answer: Ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization
EO sterilization leaves toxic ethylene oxide residue that must be removed through a mandatory aeration period before the item is safe for patient use.
CSFA Aseptic Technique and Sterilization 3
Which area of a wrapped sterile package is opened first when presenting to the scrub technologist?