Sterilization Methods and Monitoring Flashcards

What are the three critical parameters for achieving steam sterilization?

Answer: Time, temperature, and pressure

Effective steam sterilization depends on the interplay of three critical parameters. The items must be exposed to a specific temperature for a minimum duration, and this must occur under a specific pressure to ensure the steam is saturated and can effectively kill microorganisms.

A Biological Indicator (BI) for steam sterilization contains spores of which microorganism?

Answer: Geobacillus stearothermophilus

Geobacillus stearothermophilus is a highly heat-resistant, non-pathogenic, spore-forming bacterium. Its resistance to steam makes it the ideal challenge organism to verify that the sterilization process was lethal enough to kill the most resistant microbes.

A Bowie-Dick test is performed daily in which type of steam sterilizer?

Answer: Pre-vacuum steam sterilizers

The Bowie-Dick test is specifically designed to challenge the air removal system of a pre-vacuum (or dynamic-air-removal) steam sterilizer. It verifies that the vacuum system is effectively removing air from the chamber, which could otherwise prevent steam from contacting all surfaces of the load.

Which low-temperature sterilization method is NOT suitable for items containing cellulose (paper, linen, cotton)?

Answer: Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP)

Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) sterilization processes are incompatible with cellulosic materials like paper and linen. These materials absorb the sterilant, which can lead to aborted cycles and prevent the VHP from reaching and sterilizing the devices.

What is the primary purpose of a Type 5 Chemical Indicator (Integrating Indicator)?

Answer: To react to all critical parameters of the sterilization cycle

A Type 5 integrator is designed to react to all critical parameters (e.g., time, temperature, steam quality) of a specific sterilization cycle. A 'pass' result provides a high level of assurance that the conditions for sterilization were met inside the pack where it was placed.

A 'wet pack' discovered at the end of a steam sterilization cycle is considered:

Answer: Contaminated and must be reprocessed

Moisture on or inside a pack after sterilization creates a pathway for microorganisms to wick from the outside environment into the sterile contents. Therefore, any wet pack is considered unsterile and must be completely reprocessed, starting with disassembly and cleaning.

What is a critical post-sterilization step required for items processed with Ethylene Oxide (ETO)?

Answer: Aeration

Ethylene Oxide is a toxic gas that can be absorbed by many materials. A mandatory aeration period in a specialized chamber is required after the sterilization cycle to allow the residual ETO to dissipate to safe levels before the devices can be handled or used on a patient.