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
