IAHCSMM Decontamination & Cleaning Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first step in the decontamination process for reusable surgical instruments?
- Sterilization
- Inspection
- Point-of-use pre-cleaning (Correct answer)
- Packaging
Correct answer: Point-of-use pre-cleaning
Point-of-use pre-cleaning removes gross soil immediately after use, preventing biofilm formation and making subsequent cleaning more effective.
Question 2: Which water quality is recommended for the final rinse of surgical instruments in an automated washer?
- Tap water
- Distilled water
- Deionized or softened water (Correct answer)
- Reverse osmosis water only
Correct answer: Deionized or softened water
Deionized or softened water is recommended for final rinses to prevent mineral deposits and spotting on instrument surfaces.
Question 3: What pH range is generally recommended for enzymatic detergents used in instrument cleaning?
- 2.0–4.0 (strongly acidic)
- 4.5–6.5 (mildly acidic)
- 6.0–8.0 (near neutral) (Correct answer)
- 9.0–11.0 (alkaline)
Correct answer: 6.0–8.0 (near neutral)
Near-neutral pH enzymatic detergents (6.0–8.0) effectively break down proteins and organic soil without damaging instrument materials.
Question 4: What is the purpose of using a lint-free cloth when manually cleaning instruments?
- To increase friction for better cleaning
- To prevent leaving fibers that could interfere with sterilization (Correct answer)
- To absorb excess detergent
- To polish instrument surfaces
Correct answer: To prevent leaving fibers that could interfere with sterilization
Lint-free cloths prevent fiber contamination that could interfere with sterilization efficacy or be introduced into a surgical site.
Question 5: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when working in the decontamination area?
- Gloves only
- Face mask and gloves
- Full barrier PPE including gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection (Correct answer)
- Gloves and eye protection only
Correct answer: Full barrier PPE including gloves, gown, mask, and eye protection
OSHA and AAMI standards require full barrier PPE in the decontamination area to protect workers from bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards.
Question 6: How should lumened instruments such as endoscopes be cleaned manually?
- Soaked in detergent solution only
- Flushed with pressurized air
- Brushed internally with an appropriately sized brush and flushed (Correct answer)
- Wiped externally with enzymatic wipe
Correct answer: Brushed internally with an appropriately sized brush and flushed
Lumened instruments require internal brushing with a correctly sized brush followed by flushing to remove all debris from channels.
IAHCSMM Decontamination & Cleaning Procedures 1
What is the first step in the decontamination process for reusable surgical instruments?