FREE MDRAO Sterilization Methods and Monitoring Questions and Answers

Question 1

What are the three critical parameters for achieving steam sterilization?

Accepted Answer

Time, temperature, and pressure

Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Geobacillus stearothermophilus

Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Pre-vacuum steam sterilizers

Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP)

Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

To react to all critical parameters of the sterilization cycle

Answer

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.

MDRAO - Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario Practice Test

MDRAO - Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario Practice Test

FREE MDRAO Sterilization Methods and Monitoring Questions and Answers