Decontamination and Cleaning Processes Flashcards

What is the primary reason that biofilm on a surgical instrument poses a significant risk to patient safety?

Answer: It protects microorganisms from cleaning agents, disinfectants, and sterilants.

Biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms encased in a protective slimy layer. This layer acts as a barrier, making the encapsulated bacteria highly resistant to cleaning, high-level disinfection, and even sterilization processes, which can lead to the survival of pathogens on an instrument presumed to be sterile.

A surgical case has just concluded. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step for the scrub person to take with the contaminated instruments at the point of use?

Answer: Wipe gross soil from the instruments with a sponge moistened with sterile water.

The initial step at the point of use is to remove gross soil by wiping instruments with a sterile water-moistened sponge. This prevents blood and organic material from drying and initiating biofilm formation. Saline should not be used as it is corrosive to instruments.

The cleaning process in an ultrasonic cleaner that uses high-frequency sound waves to create and implode microscopic bubbles is known as:

Answer: Cavitation

Cavitation is the process where high-frequency sound waves create and collapse microscopic bubbles in a liquid. The implosion of these bubbles generates a powerful scrubbing action that dislodges soil from the tiniest crevices, joints, and lumens of an instrument.

A sterile processing technician is selecting an enzymatic detergent to clean orthopedic instruments used in a knee replacement, which are heavily soiled with blood, tissue, and fatty marrow. Which type of enzyme would be most effective at breaking down the fatty deposits?

Answer: Lipase

Lipase enzymes are specifically formulated to break down fats and lipids, such as bone marrow. Protease is effective against proteins like blood and tissue, while amylase breaks down starches. Cellulase is not typically used for surgical instrument cleaning.

Which of the following is NOT considered a primary phase of a typical automated washer-disinfector cycle?

Answer: Sterilization

A washer-disinfector is designed to clean instruments and provide thermal high-level disinfection, making them safe to handle. It does not perform sterilization, which is a separate, terminal process that eliminates all microbial life. A typical cycle includes a pre-rinse, wash, rinse, and a final thermal rinse for disinfection.

A technician in the decontamination area accidentally splashes a high-level disinfectant containing ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) into their eyes. What is the most critical and immediate action the technician must take?

Answer: Immediately go to an eyewash station and flush the eyes for at least 15 minutes.

In the event of a chemical splash to the eyes, the immediate and most critical action is to flush the eyes with copious amounts of water for a prolonged period (at least 15 minutes) to dilute and remove the chemical. While reporting the incident and consulting the SDS are also necessary, they follow the initial first aid response.