Chapter: 18 Sterilization and Disinfection
According to the Hazard Communications Standard, which of the following must be included on the label of a hazardous chemical? a. Health hazards of the chemical b. Physical hazards of the chemical c. Storing and handling of the chemical d. Name of the chemical e. All of these
All of these
The wrapper used to autoclave articles should a. Be made of a substance not affected by the sterilization process b. All of these c. Be made of a substance that does not tear or puncture easily d. Prevent contaminants from getting in during handling and storage
All of these
Which of the following is a characteristic of bacterial spores? a. They usually cannot be killed by disinfectants. b. They consist of a hard, thick-walled capsule. c. They represent a resting and protective stage. d. All of these
All of these
Which of the following must be resterilized? a. A pack that has opened up b. All of these c. A pack that has been dropped d. A pack that has gotten wet
All of these
Utility gloves over clean disposable gloves should be worn during the sanitization procedure to protect the hands from a. All of these. b. Irritating chemicals c. Bloodborne pathogens d. Cuts or punctures
All of these.
High-level disinfection is a process that a. Destroys all microorganisms except tubercle bacilli b. Destroys all microorganisms, but not spores c. Destroys all microorganisms and spores d. Destroys all pathogenic microorganisms
Destroys all microorganisms, but not spores
What is the term for an agent that kills disease-producing microorganisms and that usually is applied to inanimate objects? a. Disinfectant b. Antiseptic c. Fungicide d. Detergent
Disinfectant
What type of water should be used in the autoclave? a. Tap water b. Mineral water c. Salt water d. Distilled water
Distilled water
Which of the following items requires high-level disinfection? a. Surgical instruments b. Examining table c. Flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscope d. Stethoscope
Flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscope
Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding cold sterilization with a chemical agent? a. Each time a new item is added to the chemical, the clock must be reset for the entire amount of time. b. It is the preferred method for sterilizing instruments with sharp cutting edges. c. The chemical must be designated as a sterilant by the EPA. d. Items must be submerged in the chemical for 6-24 hours
It is the preferred method for sterilizing instruments with sharp cutting edges.
Which of the following would be best to use to wrap a large minor office surgery tray setup? a. Aluminum foil b. Sterilization paper c. Sterilization pouch d. Muslin
Muslin
Which of the following is accomplished through sanitization? a. All of these. b. Organic matter is removed from the article. c. Spores are killed. d. Stains are removed from the article. e. All microorganisms are removed from the article
Organic matter is removed from the article.
The purpose of wrapping articles before they are sterilized in the autoclave is to a. Protect the articles from damage b. Protect the articles from recontamination after autoclaving c. Ensure complete destruction of all pathogens d. Permit better steam penetration during autoclaving
Protect the articles from recontamination after autoclaving
The autoclave packs must dry fully; otherwise, microorganisms can move through the moisture on a wet wrap and contaminate the sterile article inside. True False
True
The instrument disinfectant container should be labeled with the name of the disinfectant and today's date. True False
True
The manufacturer's instructions specify how to dispose of the instrument cleaning solution. True False
True
The pack should be marked with the date of the sterilization and your initials. True False
True
The purpose of wrapping an instrument is to protect in from re-contamination during handling and storage. True False
True
Water contained in the water reservoir of the autoclave is converted to steam during the sterilization process. True False
True
The inside of the autoclave should be wiped every day with a. A disinfectant b. A low-sudsing detergent c. A scouring pad d. A damp cloth
A damp cloth
The most common temperature and pressure used for autoclaving is a. 145 °F at 20 pounds of pressure/square inch b. 212 °F at 15 pounds of pressure/square inch c. 320 °F at 20 pounds of pressure/square inch d. 250 °F at 15 pounds of pressure/square inch
250 °F at 15 pounds of pressure/square inch
Something that is sterile is free of a. All living microorganisms and spores b. Pathogens c. Nonpathogens d. All living microorganisms
All living microorganisms and spores
Which of the following is true regarding an MSDS? a. All of these. b. It must be kept on file for each hazardous chemical stored in the workplace. c. It must be readily available to employees. d. It provides information regarding hazardous chemicals. e. It is available from the manufacturer of the hazardous chemical.
All of these.
The purpose of the Hazard Communications Standard (HCS) is to ensure that employees a. Are protected from bloodborne pathogens in the workplace c. Are informed of the hazards associated with chemicals in the workplace d. Practice quality control when performing laboratory tests d. Do not come in contact with hazardous chemicals
Are protected from bloodborne pathogens in the workplace
The most reliable sterilization indicators check for a. Whether the article has been in the autoclave b. Attainment of the proper temperature and pressure c. Presence of trapped air in the autoclave d. Attainment of the proper temperature and the duration of the temperature
Attainment of the proper temperature and the duration of the temperature
Which of the following is used most often to sterilize articles in the medical office? a. Chemical agents b. Ethylene oxide sterilizer c. Dry heat oven d. Autoclave
Autoclave
Removing a wet pack from the autoclave results in a. Dulling of sharp instruments b. Contamination of the pack c. Rusting of metal instruments d. Invalid results on the sterilization indicator
Contamination of the pack
A surgical instrument requires longer sterilizing time than a minor office surgery pack. True False
False
A wire brush should be used to clean the surface of each instrument. True False
False
After removing used instruments from an examining room, immediately rinse them thoroughly under hot running water to remove organic material. True False
False
An autoclave load is dried by cracking open the door approximately 6 inches. True False
False
An instrument should be rinsed after a lubricant has been applied to it. True False
False
Autoclave tape turns from white to black, which indicates that the autoclaved item is sterile. True False
False
Daily care of the autoclave includes scrubbing the interior of the autoclave and the trays with scouring powder. True False
False
If an instrument has a movable joint, it should be placed in a slightly closed position when wrapping an instrument. True False
False
Pouches should be placed on an autoclave tray with the plastic side up and the paper side facing down. True False
False
Sanitization involves a series of steps designed to remove all microorganisms ans spores from an article. True False
False
The autoclave is typically operated at 15 pounds of pressure at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. True False
False
The wrapping material consist of a substance that prevents steam from reaching the instrument during the sterilization process. True False
False
Warm tap water must be used int he autoclave because it prevents corrosion of the stainless-steel chamber of the autoclave. True False
False
Dry heat is preferred for sterilizing a. Vaginal specula b. Flexible sigmoidoscopes c. Disposable syringes d. Instruments with sharp cutting edges
Instruments with sharp cutting edges
The medical assistant should not set the timer on the autoclave until a. The gauge has reached the desired temperature b. The pressure reaches 15 pounds per square inch c. The sterilization indicator changes color d. Steam enters the inner sterilization chamber
The gauge has reached the desired temperature
Which of the following is NOT true statements regarding sterilization pouches? a. They can be labeled. b. They provide good visibility of the contents. c. They are reusable. d. A sterilization indicator is usually present on the pouch.
They are reusable.
A sterilization indicator strip is placed in the center of the pack next to the instrument. True False
True
After cleaning each instrument, rise it thoroughly with warm water. True False
True
An MSDS (SDS) provides information regarding a chemical, its hazards, and measures to take to prevent injury and illness when handling the chemical. True False
True
An instrument cleaning agent that has expired loses its potency and should not be used. True False
True
An instrument should be placed in the center of the sterilization wrapping paper with the longest part of the instrument pointing toward the two side corners. True False
True
Before an article can be sterilized in the autoclave, it must first be sanitized. True False
True
Before surgical instruments can be sterilized in the autoclave, they must first be sanitized. True False
True
If a sterilization indicator does not change appropriately, the item is not sterile and must not be used. True False
True
If an autoclaved pack shows any damage, such as holes or tears, the article should be re-wrapped and re-sterilized. True False
True
If sterilization strips are outdated, they may provide inaccurate results. True False
True
If the instrument is not completely dry following sanitization, stains may occur on the instrument. True False
True
Instruments undergoing sanitization should be decontaminated by disinfecting them in an EPA-approved chemical disinfectant. True False
True
Small packs should be placed 1 to 3 inches apart, and large packs should be placed 2 to 4 inches apart in the autoclave to provide for adequate steam penetration. True False
True
The proper time for sterilizing an article in the autoclave depends on a. The type of sterilization indicator being used b. The intended use of the article c. The type of autoclave being used d. What is being sterilized
What is being sterilized
