Decontamination

Question 1

What are the factors of the sinner circle?

Answer 1

Chemicals
Temperature
Time
Energy

Question 2

What is the washer disinfector cycle?

Answer 2

Flush: remove gross contamination <45oC
Wash: detergent used
Rinse: removes detergent
Thermal: 80oC for 10mins or 90oC for 12secs
Drying: heated air 90oC for 20mims to remove moisture

Question 3

What testing is used for washer disinfector’s?

Answer 3

Daily: cleaning efficacy visual check
Weekly: protein residue
Weekly/monthly: manufacture soil ablation test
Annually: engineer validation

Question 4

When would an ultrasonic cleaner be used?

Answer 4

It can be used prior to WD especially for hinged instruments.

Question 5

What testing is used for ultrasonic cleaner’s?

Answer 5

Daily: cleaning efficacy visual check 
Weekly: protein residue
Ŵeekly/monthly: soil ablation 
Quarterly: ultrasonic activity 
Annually: validation testing

Question 6

What is the process of manual cleaning?

Answer 6

Water and detergent in sink at <45oC instruments are fully submerged to prevent aerosols and scrubbed with long handled soft bristle brushes
Rinsed with RO/distilled water then visually inspected and dried with non linting cloth.

Question 7

What is sterilisation?

Answer 7

Process of saturated steam under pressure at highest temp compatible with products.

Question 8

What are the 3 types of sterilisers?

Answer 8

Type N:

• normal non vacuum passive air removal
• non wrapped instruments (wrapped afterwards)
• 134oC holding time 3mins

Type B:

• vacuum active air removal
• wrapped solid, hollow and porous items prior to sterilisation
• 134-137oC for 3mins at 2.2-2.5bar

Type S:
- special specific load

Question 9

What testing is required for sterilisers?

Answer 9

Daily:

• clean door seal, check chamber of cleanliness, fill reservoir, turn power source
• automatic control test
• steam penetration vacuum helix or Bowie dick for B types

Weekly:

• air leakage for B types
• residual air test for N types

Quarterly:
- thermometric testing by engineer

Annually:

• thermometric tests
• dryness tests

Question 10

How long can instruments be stored for in England?

Answer 10

Instruments can be stored for up to 12 mnths in England. Unwrapped items in non clinical areas max 1 week and clinical areas max 1 day.

Question 11

How should an LDU be set out?

Answer 11

Dirty to clean workflow with air flow from clean to dirty.
Washing sinks next to receiving area
Ultrasonic cleaner next to sink then WD then inspection area.
Steriliser placed away from other activities with set down clean area adjacent to steriliser.
Separate hand washing basin.