Decontamination Processes and Equipment Flashcards
7 cards from real MDRAO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Decontamination Processes and Equipment flashcards as text
Which parameter is most critical to monitor during a washer-disinfector thermal disinfection cycle to ensure efficacy?
Answer: Time and temperature at the disinfection phase
Time and temperature during the disinfection phase determine the A0 value and confirm that sufficient thermal lethality has been achieved.
Point-of-use treatment of surgical instruments before transport to decontamination should include which action?
Answer: Removing gross soil and keeping instruments moist to prevent drying
At point-of-use, gross soil should be removed and instruments kept moist (with a moist towel or enzymatic foam) to prevent bioburden from drying and hardening before decontamination.
What is the recommended minimum soak time for instruments in an OPA 0.55% solution at 20°C to achieve high-level disinfection?
Answer: 12 minutes
OPA 0.55% requires a minimum contact time of 12 minutes at 20°C (68°F) to achieve high-level disinfection per manufacturer labeling.
Which instrument cleaning method should NOT be used in the decontamination sink area because it generates aerosols?
Answer: High-pressure water spraying above the water line
High-pressure spraying above the water line aerosolizes contaminated droplets, creating an inhalation and surface contamination hazard for staff.
A washer-disinfector printout shows the temperature during the disinfection phase reached only 75°C instead of the required 90°C. What action should be taken?
Answer: Quarantine the load, investigate the machine fault, and reprocess the instruments
If the disinfection temperature was not met, the load is considered unacceptable and must be quarantined and reprocessed after the machine is serviced.
What is the purpose of a lubrication (milk bath) step during instrument decontamination?
Answer: To maintain joint mobility and prevent corrosion
Instrument lubricant (milk bath) is a water-soluble lubricant that maintains joint mobility, prevents corrosion, and is compatible with subsequent sterilization.
Which of the following best describes the decontamination area workflow to prevent cross-contamination?
Answer: Instruments move from dirty to clean in a unidirectional flow
The decontamination area must maintain unidirectional workflow from soiled/dirty to clean to prevent recontamination of processed instruments.