Chapter 8 Decontamination, Point of Use Preparation and transport

The surgical department

is the major source of soiled items received by the Central Service department.

If instruments are damaged

tag for repair

Contaminated items should be contained before transport

to minimize airborne or contact spread of microorganisms and to reduce the risk of cross contamination and infection.

keep soiled instruments moist

to prevent soil from drying, can be achieved by spraying with an enzyme product, soaking in water or enzyme solution or placing a moist towel over them.

fiberscopic endoscope

water should be suctioned thru the scopes channel at the end of a procedure

Two important reason that the preparation process should begin in the user dept at point of use

1. Point of use preparation helps prolong the life of instruments. Common substances such as blood and saline to which instruments are exposed break down the devices protective finish, and hasten their decompositon. 2. Soil and debris that dry on instruments are much more difficult to remove than moist soil and debris, esp in instruments with lumens and hard to reach crevices. Those substances also break down the instruments protective finishes.

Three priority goals of soiled item transport

1. To prepare contaminated items so they will not be damaged after use, and before return to the CSD in the decon area. 2. To transport the soiled items without cross-contaminating the environment between the point-of-use and the decontamination area. 3. To assure that all individuals who may come in contact with the contaminated items remain safe during the transportation process.

sharps

Cutting instruments including knives, scalpels, blades, needles and scissors of all types. Other examples are chisels, osteotomes, some curettes, dissectors and elevators, ronguers, and cutting forceps, punches, saws and trocars.

Seperated

Before transport, reusable sharps should be from other instruments

Decontaminated

Containers and carts used to transport contaminated items should not be used to transport clean items unless they have been thoroughly

Point of use

Disposable components should be removed at

Hard Sided Containers Labeled Biohazard

Disposable sharp items blades, needles should be removed at point of use and placed in a

True

Everyone who may have contact with biohazard items must be educated about the dangers associated with those items.

True

Failure to perform soiled pick up rounds as scheduled can lead to instrument and equipment shortages.

Moist

If grossly soiled instruements cannot be cleaned immediately they should be kept

lumen

Interior path through a needle, tube or surgical instrument

False

Is soiled items are held in the user units before pick up processing, they must be kept in the patients bedside until Central Service collects them.

False

It is acceptable to transport soiled and clean items at the same time in the same cart if they are placed on separate shelves.

True

Items that have been used in patient care should be considered contaminated.

biohazard signage

Notices posted in easily-seen locations that alert persons in the area about the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses or other dangerous biohazardous agents or organisms

True

One goal of point of use preparations is to prevent instruments from being damaged.

User Department

Point of use preparation of soiled is normally performed by the

Enclosed container or cart

Soiled instruments should be removed in an

Bioharazd Signage

Soiled items that are held in used departments for pick up must be stored in designated areas with

Gross soil

Tissue, body fat, and other body substances

gross soil

Tissue, body fat, blood and other substances.

False

To impeded the growth of bacteria, soil on used instruments should be allowed to dry.

True

Users are responsible to notify the Central Service if they discover instruments or equipment that are in need of repair.

True

When it is necessary to transport soiled items between facilities using a truck or van, facilities must consult US Dept of Transportation as well as state and local laws for transporting biohazard items.

True

When moving transport carts throughout the healthcare facility, Central Service Technicians must always yield right of way to patients and visitors.

should be removed immediately after use

gross soil

begins at point-of-use

instrument decontamination

box locks

should be left open (hinges on instruments

reusable sharps

should be separated from the rest of the instruments, to avoid injury and they can be easily identified.