Introduction 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 Introduction flashcards as text
What is the role of a 'point-of-use' treatment in medical device reprocessing?
Answer: Immediate pre-cleaning to prevent soil from drying before full reprocessing
Point-of-use treatment prevents bioburden from drying on instruments, making subsequent cleaning more effective.
Which term describes the number of microorganisms on a device prior to sterilization?
Answer: Bioburden
Bioburden refers to the total number of viable microorganisms present on a device before sterilization.
A Sterility Assurance Level (SAL) of 10⁻⁶ means:
Answer: There is a 1 in 1,000,000 chance a device is non-sterile
SAL 10⁻⁶ means there is no more than a 1 in 1,000,000 probability that a single viable microorganism remains on the device.
Which type of water is recommended for the final rinse of medical instruments prior to sterilization?
Answer: Distilled or deionized water
Distilled or deionized water is used for final rinsing to prevent mineral deposits and spotting on instruments.
What is the primary hazard of inadequate cleaning before sterilization?
Answer: Organic material can protect microorganisms, preventing effective sterilization
Organic soil acts as a physical barrier that prevents sterilizing agents from reaching and killing all microorganisms.
Which of the following is NOT a route of transmission that medical device reprocessing aims to prevent?
Answer: Genetic transmission
Genetic transmission refers to hereditary passage of traits and is not related to medical device contamination.
What does 'decontamination' specifically refer to in the reprocessing workflow?
Answer: The process of reducing microbial contamination to a safe level through cleaning and/or disinfection
Decontamination reduces the microbial load on items to a level safe for handling and further processing.