Deck 15: Principles of Aseptic and Sterile Techniques

Question 1

Hair is considered a gross contaminant and a major source of staphylococci.

Answer 1

True
Hair is a contaminant.Hair follicles harbor resident and transient flora.It can also be a mechanical irritant in wound healing.Hair should be completely covered at all times in restricted and semirestricted areas.

Question 2

What is one important action health care workers can take to decrease the spread of infection with patients in isolation?

A)Refuse to perform survival procedures on isolation patients until the precaution has been lifted.
B)Perform procedures on immunosuppressed patients on weekends and during late shifts.
C)Explain to patients in isolation that they have contaminated body fluids that cannot be tolerated by the health care workers caring for them.
D)Perform handwashing before and after close patient contact and in between patients.

Answer 2

D
In all types of isolation,the most important control measure is thorough handwashing before and after close patient contact; after handling contaminated objects,body fluids,and excretions; and between patients.Isolation techniques must not be implemented in a way that causes the patient to feel victimized.Patients should be educated to understand that the isolation protects them as well as the caregiver,and they must comply with the regimen.

Question 3

Which is an example of an impervious barrier used in a surgical procedure?

A)Sterile drapes
B)OR bed sheet
C)Plastic pillowcase cover
D)Clean garbage liner

Answer 3

A
Impervious barriers such as sterile drapes,gowns,and gloves protect sterile areas,isolate surgical sites,and keep the number of microorganisms to a minimum.

Question 4

What is the margin of safety regarding the inside of a sterile package?

A)The inside is considered sterile to within 1 inch of the edges.
B)The inside is considered sterile to within 11/2 inches of the edges.
C)The inside is considered sterile to within 2 inches of the edges.
D)The inside is sterile to the edge of the package.

Question 5

What is the most important reason for keeping the doors to the OR closed except when opening is necessary?

A)The patient may get cold.
B)The hallway may be too noisy and prevent the surgeon from concentrating.
C)Closed doors maintain a positive pressure atmosphere.
D)Closed doors prevent environmental cleaning staff from hearing and seeing surgical events.

Question 6

What PPE would you use if following standard precautions when moving a patient from the OR table to a stretcher?

A)Sterile gloves and gown
B)Lead vest and apron
C)Gloves and mask
D)Thyroid shield

Question 7

If an item in the OR is not known definitively to be sterile,what is the next action to be taken?

A)Consider it contaminated and throw it out.
B)Call your supervisor.
C)Keep it in the room and use it so as not to waste an opened item.
D)Ask the anesthesiologist in the room to determine its sterility.

Question 8

What are the parameters of the sterile areas on the front of a gown?

A)From the neckline to the waist
B)From the chest level down to below the waist
C)From the chest level to the level of the sterile field
D)From the chest level down to knee level

Question 9

What is a way to prevent fomite contamination of items in the OR?

A)Weekly disinfection of OR surfaces after use
B)Keeping shipping boxes and cartons within the surgical suite for easy reach
C)Placement of dust covers over sterile items while in storage
D)Utilize a portable fan in the OR to prevent flies and other insects from inhabiting the space

Question 10

Good housekeeping techniques should reduce microbial flora by approximately 90%.

Question 11

What is the proper way to pass medications to a sterile person at the sterile field?

A)The scrub person uses a syringe and needle to draw out of the bottle held by the circulator.
B)The circulator flips off the cap of the medication bottle and pours the medicine into a cup or basin on the sterile field.
C)The medication is drawn up in a syringe and hypodermic needle by the circulator, the needle is removed, and the drug is dispensed in a cup on the sterile field by the circulator.
D)The medication is drawn up in a syringe by the circulator, the hypodermic needle remains attached, and the drug is dispensed in a cup on the sterile field by the circulator.

Question 12

What is the most common source of transmission of microorganisms in the OR?

A)Instruments
B)Faulty ventilation system
C)Infection
D)Surgical team

Question 13

What is the proper way an unsterile person should wear their warm-up jacket?

A)Don't wear one
B)Roll up the sleeves
C)Leave it open
D)Button it completely

Question 14

What is the recommendation for the setup of sterile tables?

A)Set up just before the procedure.
B)Set up all tables for the day in the morning.
C)Set up the night before and cover it.
D)Set up when you have time.

Question 15

It is important to wash hands before entering the OR and after every patient contact.

Question 16

Which is an example of a hospital-acquired infection?

A)Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
B)Diabetic gangrene
C)Gunshot wound septicemia
D)Tuberculosis

Question 17

Which three areas of the human body are major areas of microbial shedding?

A)Feet, lips, umbilicus
B)Neck, axillae, perineum
C)Flank, waist, groin
D)Fingertips, ankle, chest

Question 18

If a sterile package wrapped in an absorbent material barrier becomes wet or damp,what should you do?

A)Wipe it off, and then open it when the outer package is completely dry.
B)Use it as is because it was sterilized at one time.
C)Do not use because of the moisture that may have seeped into the package and contaminated it.
D)If it was sterilized less than 2 weeks ago, it is acceptable to use it.

Question 19

Asepsis is another way of stating something is sterile.

Question 20

Traffic in the OR should be kept to a minimum.

Question 21

The facility recommends that each caregiver only use one mask per day to save money.

Question 22

The management of puncture wounds needs to be taken care of immediately.

Question 23

If the scrub person must re-glove during a procedure,it is acceptable to pull the cuff down over the hand while putting on new gloves.

Question 24

When scrubbed in,it is never acceptable to fold one's hands under one's arms and tuck them in the axillary region.

Question 25

It is acceptable to flash instruments if you are in a hurry and don't want to delay a case.

Question 26

Double-gloving during a procedure will keep the wearer from incurring a puncture wound caused by a suture or knife blade.

Question 27

Eyeglasses are acceptable protection against bodily fluids while at the sterile field.

Question 28

A sterile person and an unsterile person face each other when passing each other so as to recognize whether the sterile person gets contaminated.

Question 29

If an item,such as the end of a suture,extends over the edge of the sterile field,can it be brought back into the sterile field?

Question 30

When removing instrument trays from the sterilizer,it is acceptable to touch the door of the sterilizer with the tray because the door is sterile.

Question 31

Once the patient's skin has been prepped with iodine solution,it is sterile and considered free of all flora.

Question 32

Every patient in the OR is considered infected.