Aseptic Surgery Prep

Question 1

Define sterilization

Answer 1

the process of destroying all microorganisms on or in an object

Question 2

Define disinfection

Answer 2

anything less than sterilization

• high-level disinfectants kill any microorganisms present except large #s of bacterial spores
• intermediate-level disinfectants typically will not kill bacterial spores
• low-level disinfectants kill most vegetative bacteria as well as some fungi/viruses

Question 3

How does cleaning differ from decontamination?

Answer 3

cleaning is the removal of gross inorganic/organic debris, while decontamination is the removal of sufficient microbes to render equipment safe to handle or discard

Question 4

Define antiseptic and surgical asepsis

Answer 4

Antiseptic: prevents or reduces growth or action of pathogenic organisms on living tissue

Surgical asepsis: complete absence of contamination by pathogenic organisms

Question 5

Hair removal from the surgical site should be performed during the preoperative period, which is how long?

Answer 5

within 4 hours of the procedure

Question 6

Why should application of antiseptics ot the patient’s surgical site always be preceded by a decontamination step?

Answer 6

because antiseptics used for skin are not active in a dirty environment containing organic material

Question 7

Why might an alcohol-based hand rub method be superior to a medicated soap or scrub like Chlorhexedine?

Answer 7

prolonged antimicrobial effect, decreased time, water usage, cost, carbon footprint, and decreased chance of recontamination by Pseudomonas spp or gram neg bacteria in rinse water

Question 8

Why shouldn’t linens and paper wrapping be used with hydrogen peroxide gas, plasma, or vapor sterilization?

Answer 8

because of the possibility of absorption of the hydrogen peroxide, which could negatively impact the efficacy of the process

Question 9

Describe 3 main types of instrument sterilization

Answer 9

• Cold: soaking instruments in disinfectant, not rx for equipment that, if contaminated, would carry risk for significant detrimental sequelae (high-level disinfection)
• Steam: most common, for heat/moisture stable items, kill microbes thru coagulation and denaturation of proteins
• Ethylene oxide: sterilizes by way of alkylation of proteins and nucleic acids, obstructing cell metabolism and reproduction; for items that cannot be steam sterilized - mutagenic/carcinogenic/neurologic hazard

Question 10

What is flash sterilization?

Answer 10

immediate-use steam sterilization; for items that are not intended to be stored later - higher temp/shorter cycle

Question 11

What are the differences between physical, chemical, and biologic sterilization indicators?

Answer 11

Physical - monitors assoc. w/ the specific sterilization unit being used

Chemical - react to specific parameters that are critical to the sterilization process, typically by color change (i.e. color-changing tape)

Biologic - best method of determining efficacy- contained biologic organism that is cultured after the sterilization process to deterimine viability; expensive and time-consuming