Deck 3: Disinfection

Question 1

An endotracheal tube is an example of which type of surgical item that would require a minimum of disinfection for cleaning?

A)Category I-Critical
B)Category II-Semi-critical
C)Category III-Non-critical
D)Endotracheal tubes are not classified using this method.

Answer 1

Category II-Semi-critical

Question 2

Which of the following items is considered to be a category I-Critical surgical item?

A)ECG electrodes
B)Cystoscope
C)Internal defibrillator paddles
D)Grounding pads

Answer 2

Internal defibrillator paddles

Question 3

What is the term for removing blood or body fluids from instruments or devices while still in the operating room?

A)Neutralizing
B)Sterilizing
C)Purification
D)Decontamination

Answer 3

Decontamination

Question 4

If the nurse is transporting used instruments to another area for decontamination, which of the following is the most important practice to maintain asepsis?

A)Covering the tray of used instruments before transport.
B)Leaving used instruments in the surgical suite for at least one hour before transporting them.
C)Always transporting items on a cart instead of carrying them.
D)Ensuring used items are in a locked box before moving them.

Question 5

When sending items on a case cart for sterilization, which of the following is true about unused, sterile items left on the cart?

A)Unused, sterile items should sent back to processing with contaminated items.
B)Unused, sterile items can be used for another surgical process right away.
C)Unused, sterile items should be opened and integrated with the contaminated items.
D)Unused, sterile items should remain on the case cart, with a second cart needed for contaminated items.

Question 6

Which of the following should be considered when using a washer-disinfector machine to decontaminate instruments with gross blood and debris on them?

A)Gross blood or debris should be hand-washed first before using the washer-disinfector.
B)The washer-disinfector will need an initial cycle of cold water to prevent blood from sticking to the instruments.
C)The washer-disinfector does not require a hand-washing phase before use.
D)The washer-disinfector must have water and detergent changes several times throughout the cycle in order to be fully effective.

Question 7

When using steam sterilization, which of the following is necessary to properly remove microorganisms through the steam autoclave process?

A)Steam, high temperature, and ethylene oxide gas
B)Steam, high temperature, and pressure
C)Steam, low temperature, and hydrogen peroxide
D)Steam only

Question 8

The probability of a microorganism remaining on an item after sterilization is known as:

A)Disinfection reliability
B)Sterilization guarantee
C)Neutralization reliability reading
D)Sterility assurance level

Question 9

Which of the following is a negative effect of using steam sterilization?

A)It involves agitation of instruments, which may cause damage.
B)It works very slowly and is not ideal when instruments are needed right away.
C)Its use may cause corrosion of some materials.
D)It is not intended for items that will be packaged and stored before use.

Question 10

Which of the following types of microorganisms does disinfection not completely eliminate?

A)Retroviruses
B)Bacterial spores
C)Fungus
D)Protozoa

Question 11

Following high-level disinfection of an endoscope, which of the following methods is acceptable to eliminate accumulation of the disinfectant within the scope?

A)Check the endoscope for the appearance of moisture.
B)Rinse the endoscope with tap water.
C)Flush the endoscope with sterile water.
D)Use a chemical drying agent, such as acetone, to remove excess disinfectant.

Question 12

Which of the following devices may need chemical sterilization, rather than steam sterilization?

A)Fiberoptic endoscope
B)Blood pressure cuff
C)Laparoscope
D)Respiratory therapy devices

Question 13

How should endoscopes be stored to prevent contamination and to promote drying?

A)Lay them individually in a storage compartment.
B)Stack the endoscopes on top of each other.
C)Hang the endoscope in a vertical position.
D)Stand the endoscope up on end.

Question 14

For what length of time should cryosurgical instruments be sterilized to ensure adequate elimination of all microorganisms?

A)5 minutes
B)12 minutes
C)30 minutes
D)It depends on the manufacturer's instructions.

Question 15

What precautions should the nurse implement when working with instruments that were used on a patient who was HIV positive?

A)Use ethylene oxide as a chemical method of sterilization.
B)Use a washer-disinfector before steam sterilization.
C)Always use flash sterilization for any high-risk materials.
D)Use the same precautions as for any instruments used for any other patient.

Question 16

At the completion of a surgical procedure, which type of disinfectant should the nurse use to wipe down tables and equipment?

A)High-level disinfectant
B)Low-level disinfectant
C)Intermediate disinfectant
D)Only sterile water and ammonia

Question 17

Which of the following actions must be considered when disinfecting a patient area following a surgical procedure?

A)The nurse needs to begin before the patient is transferred in order to have enough time to disinfect.
B)The nurse should wear gloves when using a disinfectant.
C)The nurse should clean the area before disinfecting.
D)Both B and C

Question 18

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using ethylene oxide (EO) as a chemical sterilization method?

A)It can be toxic to the body.
B)Items are more likely to become damaged during the process.
C)It takes a long time to complete the process.
D)Both A and C

Question 19

The perioperative nurse opens a package containing a disposable forceps during a surgical procedure but determines that they are the wrong size. Which of the following is the most appropriate action in this situation?

A)Return the forceps to their original container if they did not leave the sterile field.
B)Send the item to be sterilized through steam sterilization for reuse.
C)Try to find a method of using the item during the procedure to warrant opening the package.
D)Dispose of the item, as it cannot be reused.

Question 20

Which of the following describes the action of a gravity air displacement sterilizer?

A)Pressurized steam pushes air out of the sterilizing chamber, and high-pressure steam sterilizes the instruments.
B)Air is removed from the sterilizing chamber through a vacuum, and steam replaces the air to sterilize the instruments.
C)Pressurized gas is pushed into the chamber to circulate with high levels of humidity, which sterilizes the instruments.
D)Instruments are immersed in fluid, followed by humidified air that circulates at extremely high temperatures.

Question 21

What is the purpose of aeration for items undergoing gas sterilization?

A)To air-dry the materials and make sure they do not contain moisture before use.
B)To allow for the release of toxic substances from the surface of the instruments.
C)To replace the gas at the end of the cycle with humidified air, saturating the instruments before drying.
D)To instill a protective covering over the instruments, rendering them safe to use in the next procedure.

Question 22

Which of the following measures is important to remember to avoid toxicity when sterilizing instruments using ethylene oxide?

A)Only items that are small enough to fit on an 8 x 8 tray are safe to sterilize in this method.
B)Aeration is necessary only when materials come in direct patient contact.
C)Materials must be clean and dry before sterilizing with ethylene alcohol.
D)Both B and C

Question 23

What is the term that refers to the actual or potential amount of microorganisms found on an instrument or article?

A)Contamination
B)Bioburden
C)Pathogen infectivity
D)Article corruption

Question 24

Which of the following are important considerations when packaging instrument trays for sterilization?

A)Put instrument sets together in closed, covered trays.
B)Instrument sets should be strung in a closed loop for sterilization, since it keeps all items together.
C)Nesting instruments or basin sets keeps them too close together and prevents adequate sterilization of all surfaces.
D)All trays should have a worksheet that outlines the number of instruments being sterilized.

Question 25

What is the purpose of a biologic monitor during the sterilization process?

A)It measures the length of the sterilization process.
B)It measures the effectiveness of the sterilization process.
C)It measures the type of chemical agent used during the sterilization process.
D)Both A and C.

Question 26

Which of the following is an appropriate response when the biologic indicator determines that bacterial spores are present on instruments that have been sterilized?

A)Stop using the machine and call a maintenance company for service.
B)Document the amount of bacterial spores present to determine if the machine can still be used.
C)Notify the surgeon that the instruments he is using could be contaminated with bacterial spores.
D)Continue using the instruments until the chief operating officer decides to shut down the sterilizer.

Question 27

Which of the following is important to remember when loading packaged items into a steam sterilizer?

A)Load packages to fit as many as possible into the sterilizer, as it will take time to complete a cycle.
B)Increased handling of packages around the time of sterilization increases the shelf life of the materials.
C)Place basins, trays and other packs on their sides to allow the sterilizer to infiltrate each package.
D)Packages should be loaded so that items needed most are in front, in case the sterilizer needs to be opened during the process.

Question 28

Following steam sterilization, the nurse opens the door to remove the packages. In order to maintain the integrity of the packages, which of the following actions is important for the nurse to follow?

A)Move the sterilized items immediately into storage for protection until use.
B)Allow the packages to dry for about an hour before storing.
C)Place warm packages on metal shelving, as this will help to cool the items more quickly.
D)Both A and C

Question 29

Which of the following actions ensures continuous use of fresh supplies that are not outdated?

A)Place older supplies in first, with newer supplies in front.
B)Place supplies in a windowless cabinet that remains locked.
C)Place new supplies in first, with older supplies in front.
D)Store all supplies for operating rooms together to ensure that supplies are continuously being used.

Question 30

What action should be taken to preserve shelf life for packages that are not frequently needed?

A)Label the packages with the date and time of sterilization and place them at the front of the cabinet.
B)Place a plastic cover over the wrapper and seal it.
C)Keep the packages in a covered box to protect them from light.
D)There is no method of maintenance, packages have to be routinely checked and discarded.

Question 31

All of the following objects may undergo flash sterilization EXCEPT:

A)An essential instrument that became contaminated during a procedure
B)Only porous items
C)A complete tray set that has been contaminated with gross blood
D)A small, unwrapped instrument set

Question 32

Which of the following is part of the process of cleaning or maintaining a sterilizer?

A)Recalibrating temperature charts every six months.
B)Cleaning the inside chamber every six months.
C)Checking the chemical levels when a biologic indicator determines that bacterial spores are present.
D)It is not the nurse's duty to clean or maintain the sterilizer.

Question 33

A bactericidal solution applied to skin and body tissues is called a:

A)Disinfectant
B)Antiseptic
C)Sterilant
D)Antibacterial

Question 34

All of the following affect the sterility of a package EXCEPT:

A)How the material has been handled.
B)The length of time since it was sterilized.
C)The conditions in which the package was stored.
D)The type of material covering the package.

Question 35

A nurse who is not sterile is taking a sterilized item out of a flash sterilizer for use during a procedure. Which of the following methods allows them to transfer the item to the sterile field without contaminating it?

A)Use two sterile towels to reach into the autoclave and pick up the item to transfer it.
B)Use a pair of sterile tongs to reach into the autoclave and retrieve the item.
C)Use a flash pan to sterilize the items and hold the pan by its handle for transport.
D)A nurse who is not sterile should never retrieve sterile items from an autoclave for immediate use.

Question 36

When cleaning the surgical environment following a procedure, how should the nurse dispose of soiled linen?

A)Place linen in the hamper outside the door to avoid contaminating objects in the room.
B)Leave linen exactly where it is for the housekeeping staff to clean up.
C)Place linen in a bag before putting it in a proper receptacle within the room.
D)Fold linen and separate into grossly soiled and used, disposing of each into separate containers.

Question 37

What is the purpose of damp-dusting equipment within a room before a surgical procedure?

A)Damp-dusting sweeps away dust particles that have collected on the surface of items within the room.
B)Damp-dusting is used for rooms that have sat empty for a long time.
C)Damp-dusting is done to sterilize surfaces before setting up the sterile field.
D)Damp-dusting is performed to remove microorganisms from the air that have settled on items.

Question 38

When using a case cart for sterile instruments, which of the following is part of the process of returning items for processing at the end of the surgical procedure?

A)At the end of the procedure, items are sterilized and placed inside the cart for storage.
B)Once contaminated items are placed in the cart, it must be closed for transport.
C)The cart should be disinfected after contaminated items have been inside of it and before sterile items are added.
D)Both B and C

Question 39

What method is most appropriate for cleaning a room in the time between surgical procedures?

A)Only housekeeping personnel should clean the procedure room, to ensure cleaning is done correctly.
B)Only perioperative nurses should clean the procedure room, to ensure cleaning is done correctly.
C)Using a wet vacuum on floors should be considered instead of manual floor cleaning.
D)Both B and C

Question 40

What is a disadvantage of using the pasteurization process for high-level disinfection?

A)Increased amounts of toxic residues after pasteurization
B)Required rinsing following the process
C)Ineffective sporicidal activity of the process
D)The process is time consuming and not cost effective.

Question 41

Which of the following must be considered when reprocessing an object that was designed for single-use only?

A)Reprocessing single-use items can only be performed on critical items.
B)When reprocessing an item, evidence of sterility must be achieved or the item should be discarded.
C)Items that are reprocessed after single use should be clearly marked as second-use only.
D)Disinfection is inadequate for reprocessing; it always requires sterilization.