MDRAO Decontamination Processes and Equipment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standard or guideline specifically addresses the reprocessing of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes in Canadian healthcare facilities?
- CSA Z314.0 only
- MDRAO Decontamination Manual only
- Professional society guidelines such as SGNA/CSGNA combined with CSA standards (Correct answer)
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
Correct answer: Professional society guidelines such as SGNA/CSGNA combined with CSA standards
Flexible endoscope reprocessing follows combined guidance from professional societies (SGNA/CSGNA) and applicable CSA standards, as no single document covers all requirements.
Question 2: After completing the decontamination of a set of instruments, how should the technician verify cleaning efficacy before sending items to sterile processing?
- By checking that the washer cycle timer completed
- By performing visual inspection under magnification and using a lighted magnifier (Correct answer)
- By running a spore test on the instruments
- By weighing the instruments before and after cleaning
Correct answer: By performing visual inspection under magnification and using a lighted magnifier
Visual inspection under magnification with good lighting is the standard method to verify cleanliness of instruments before packaging and sterilization.
Question 3: What is the correct dilution method when preparing enzymatic detergent for manual cleaning?
- Always add water to detergent concentrate
- Always add detergent concentrate to water per manufacturer instructions (Correct answer)
- Mix detergent and water in equal parts regardless of manufacturer instructions
- Use detergent at full concentration to maximize cleaning power
Correct answer: Always add detergent concentrate to water per manufacturer instructions
Enzymatic detergent concentrate should always be added to water (not the reverse) at the manufacturer's specified dilution ratio to ensure correct concentration and safe use.
Question 4: Which temperature range is typically required for the wash phase of an automated instrument washer to activate enzymatic detergents without denaturing enzymes?
- Below 20°C
- Between 40°C and 55°C (Correct answer)
- Between 70°C and 80°C
- Above 90°C
Correct answer: Between 40°C and 55°C
Enzymatic detergents are most effective between approximately 40°C and 55°C; temperatures above this range can denature the enzymes, reducing their cleaning activity.
Question 5: A technician discovers a crack in the barrel of a syringe plunger used in a surgical tray during decontamination inspection. What is the correct action?
- Return it to service if it completed the wash cycle
- Remove it from service, tag it as damaged, and send it for repair or disposal (Correct answer)
- Re-sterilize it without informing the supervisor
- Use it only for non-critical procedures
Correct answer: Remove it from service, tag it as damaged, and send it for repair or disposal
Cracked or damaged devices must be removed from service immediately, tagged, and sent for repair or disposal to prevent patient harm and instrument failure.
Question 6: Which of the following describes the correct sequence for manual decontamination of surgical instruments at the sink?
- Rinse → scrub dry → soak in enzymatic solution → rinse
- Pre-rinse → soak in enzymatic detergent → scrub under water → rinse → inspect (Correct answer)
- Dry scrub → enzymatic soak → air dry → rinse
- Scrub dry → disinfect → rinse → soak
Correct answer: Pre-rinse → soak in enzymatic detergent → scrub under water → rinse → inspect
The correct manual cleaning sequence is pre-rinse to remove gross soil, enzymatic soak to loosen bioburden, scrubbing under the water surface to minimize aerosols, then rinsing and inspecting.
Question 7: When testing a flexible endoscope for leaks before decontamination, a positive leak test result (bubbling) indicates what?
- The scope is ready for high-level disinfection
- There is a breach in the endoscope's outer sheath or internal channels (Correct answer)
- The insufflation pressure was set too low
- The endoscope passed quality control
Correct answer: There is a breach in the endoscope's outer sheath or internal channels
Bubbling during a positive-pressure leak test indicates a breach in the endoscope's integrity, meaning fluids can enter internal components and the scope must be removed from service for repair.
MDRAO Decontamination Processes and Equipment 5
Which standard or guideline specifically addresses the reprocessing of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes in Canadian healthcare facilities?