IAHCSMM Chapter 14

Most common temps used in steam sterilizers

250F/270F - 275F

Relative humidity of saturated steam

97% - 100%

Inadequate _______ time at the correct temperature is a reason for sterilization failure A. Exposure B. Contact C. Working D. Cycle

A. Exposure

Drying

Begins at the completion of the exhaust phase if packaged items are in the load. During flash cycles, they have minimal drying time if any

Number of microorganisms

Bioburden

The _____ _______ is located in the floor of the steam sterilize.

Chamber drain

________ and _________________ provide a written record of sterilizer cycles.

Charts and printouts

Special Purpose Pressure Sterilizers

Combination units that wash and sterilize instruments to make them safe for handling by processing personnel

Placing warm, sterile packages on cool surfaces will cause _________________ to form

Condensation

Steam sterilizer cycle phases (four)

Conditioning, exposure, exhaust, drying

Conditions necessary for effective steam sterilization (four)

Contact, time, temperature, moisture

Another name for heated steam is

Dry steam

Moisture is not required for steam sterilization (T or F)

False

Paper/plastic instrument pouches can be used in trays (T or F)

False

Steam sterilization doesn't have a temperature it has to be at (T or F)

False

Wood and cork can be sterilized by any hospital sterilization method

False

You can lay paper/plastic pouches flat (T or F)

False

The_______is designed to maintain a tight seal that prevents steam from escaping the chamber of a sterilizer.

Gasket

_____________ sterilizers remove air from the chamber by steam forcing the cooler air in the chamber out through the drain

Gravity

Conduction

Heat transfer from one part of an item to another

convection

Heat transfer from one point to another as gas or liquid circulates

The interior chamber walls of the sterilizer are heated by steam in the________of the sterilizer.

Jacket

Advantages of Steam Sterilization are (four answers)

Low cost, fast cycles, relatively simple technology, leaves no chemical residues or by-products behind

The _____ of the medical device impacts sterilization

design

Paper/Plastic pouches should be used for

small, lightweight items

Flash Sterilization

The process of sterilizing an item that is not packaged

Terminal Sterilization

The process of sterilizing an item that is packaged

The part of the steam sterilizer that measures steam temperature and automatically controls the flow of air from the sterilizer chamber is the _________ _______

Thermostatic trap

Dynamic air removal sterilizers are similar to gravity sterilizers except:

They have a vacuum pump or water ejector

Dynamic air removal sterilizers remove air more effectively during the preconditioning phase than gravity sterilizers. (T or F)

True

In order for steam sterilization to be effective, all items must be exposed for a specific amount of time (T or F)

True

No items should be sterilized without a written IFU

True

Oils and powders cannot be sterilized by steam

True

Steam sterilization must be at certain temps in order to destroy heat resistant bacteria (T or F)

True

The most frequent cause for sterilization failure is lack of steam contact (T or F)

True

The types of microorganisms impact sterilization (T or F)

True

You can lay items with perforated bottoms flat (T or F)

True

Gravity air displacement sterilizers

Steam sterilizer that uses gravity to remove air from the chamber. As steam enters, cooler air is forced out.

Flash sterilizers

Steam sterilizers that are used for surgical instruments located at point of use. They are intended for emergencies when there isn't time for terminal sterilization.

Steam Flush/Pressure Pulse sterilizers

Steam sterilizers that use a repeated sequence of steam flushes and pressure pulses to remove air from the chamber

Saturated steam

Steam that contains the maximum amount of water vapor

Path of steam through a sterilizer

Steam to jacket, from jacket to chamber, through the baffle plate and sterilizer, through the chamber wall, out the chamber drain screen, out the thermostatic trap

Type of sterilizer typically used in small clinics and dental offices

Tabletop Sterilizer