Deck 18: Sterilization

Question 1

Implantable items may be sterilized with EO gas.

Answer 1

True
Implants sterilized with EO should not be used until the results of biologic testing are known to be negative (minimum of 48 hours).

Question 2

A wet pack is acceptable to use as long as it is still sealed and has been sterilized.

Answer 2

False
Unless a wrapper is completely impermeable to water,a pack should be considered unsterile and unacceptable for use if it is wet.Reprocessing is necessary for a wet package or a load with one or more wet packages.

Question 3

____sterilization is the type of sterilization used when instruments are needed for immediate use.

A) Flash
B) Terminal
C) Aeration
D) Hydrogen peroxide

Answer 3

A
Flash sterilization in a high-speed pressure sterilizer should be used only in urgent,unplanned,or emergency situations.

Question 4

A case cart system is used to gather and deliver sterile and nonsterile items needed for a particular surgical procedure.

Question 5

When loading a dry heat sterilizer,it must be loaded to the fullest capacity with no space wasted so as to use the energy efficiently.

Question 6

When the sterilizer door is opened,wrapped instruments must be removed immediately to begin cooling and drying on a cool surface.

Question 7

Lubricant on any items must be removed before being sterilized with EO gas.

Question 8

When assembling instrument trays,sharp instruments should be placed on the bottom of the tray to prevent injury when removing instruments from the tray.

Question 9

A closed-container system with moisture in the closed tray is considered unsterile and contaminated.

Question 10

External indicator tape should be placed within an item's package to determine sterility.

Question 11

Concave or cupped instruments should be placed with the cupped side up so they catch and retain the excess water or solution at the end of the sterilization cycle.

Question 12

Which is a type of chemical sterilizing agent?

A) Steam
B) Microwave
C) Ozone gas
D) Radiation vapor

Question 13

Sterilization renders an item free of most microorganisms except for some spores.

Question 14

When using a gravity displacement sterilizer,the ability of the steam to kill the microorganisms is increased in direct proportion to the amount of air present.

Question 15

Routine maintenance consists of daily inspections of gaskets,gauges,and drain screens of sterilizing devices used.

Question 16

It is acceptable to open sterile supplies into a rigid closed container because the four sides are sterile.

Question 17

Ethylene oxide (EO)is a chemical sterilant that does not kill spores.

Question 18

Like EO sterilization,hydrogen peroxide sterilization requires a lengthy aeration period.

Question 19

If steam heat sterilization is being used,it is not necessary to wash and clean instruments before placing them into the sterilizer.

Question 20

A sterilized peel-pack pouch is considered sterile for only 30 days once it has been sterilized.

Question 21

Which is a requirement for the time an item has to spend in the sterilization cycle?

A) No more than two pieces of sterilization tape
B) Increased exposure to bioburden
C) Evacuation and dissipation of the sterilization agent
D) Lack of biologic indicator

Question 22

Which types of packaging materials are acceptable for use with EO sterilization?

A) Woven fabrics
B) Polyester
C) Polyvinyl chloride film
D) Nylon

Question 23

Dry heat sterilization is the preferred method of sterilization for which instruments?

A) Tissue scissors
B) Sweetheart retractor
C) Orthopedic mallet
D) Richardson retractor

Question 24

Which chemical sterilants require the user to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)throughout use of the product?

A) Glutaraldehyde
B) Steam sterilant
C) Nonionizing radiation
D) Cobalt-60

Question 25

What is a reason not to use a flash sterilizer?

A) Routine sterilization of a tray
B) Urgent or unplanned situations
C) If an instrument has been dropped
D) For immediate use of an item

Question 26

What is the preferred method for sterilizing talc?

A) Steam heat sterilization
B) Dry heat sterilization
C) EO gas sterilization
D) Glutaraldehyde sterilization

Question 27

Which is an advantage of EO gas sterilization?

A) It is noncorrosive and does not damage items.
B) It is a quick,efficient process.
C) It is inexpensive and cost effective.
D) It is nonirritating to mucous membranes.

Question 28

Which statement regarding irradiation sterilization is true?

A) The principal sources of ionizing radiation are water molecules and heat.
B) Ionizing radiation is the most effective sterilization method.
C) Irradiation cannot sterilize heat- and moisture-sensitive items.
D) Beta 45 is the most commonly used source for irradiation sterilization.

Question 29

Most gravity displacement steam sterilizers have a minimum exposure time of ____ minutes.

A) 8 to 10
B) 15 to 30
C) 4
D) 15

Question 30

What is the purpose of a load control number?

A) To determine which OR is being used for particular procedures
B) To determine the time the item or instrument tray is being used
C) To facilitate identification and retrieval of supplies if a sterilization failure occurs
D) To track which patient is being operated on within a facility

Question 31

What is required for the steam sterilization process to be effective in killing microorganisms?

A) Cool sterile air and hydrogen peroxide
B) Pounds of pressure and heat
C) Moisture and heat
D) Air in sterilizer chamber

Question 32

What is an advantage of using custom packs for a surgical procedure?

A) Reduces turnover time in opening supplies for a procedure
B) Provides many extra supplies within the pack from which the scrub nurse can choose
C) Increases inventory numbers
D) Requires additional inventory space

Question 33

Which is one of the three known residual products found after EO sterilization?

A) Ethylene chloride.
B) Ethylene alcohol
C) Ethylene glycol.
D) Hydrogen peroxide

Question 34

What is the purpose of a Bowie-Dick test?

A) To determine the temperature of the sterilizer
B) To check for any residual microorganisms left in the sterilizer
C) To check for air entrapment in the prevacuum sterilizer
D) To determine whether the prevacuum sterilizer is cooling at the correct temperature

Question 35

When preparing to sterilize odd-shaped or single instruments,which packaging material is best?

A) Nonwoven fabric
B) Peel-pack pouch
C) Wrapped tray
D) Foam and two-ply paper wrap

Question 36

Which is a disadvantage of steam sterilization?

A) Steam leaves a harmful residue on instruments.
B) Items need to be clean and free of grease.
C) Steam is expensive and not easily supplied.
D) Steam's total time cycle is the longest of all methods.

Question 37

What is an advantage of chemical sterilants?

A) Items don't need to be thoroughly rinsed before use.
B) They have low volatility.
C) They are absorbed by rubber and plastic.
D) Sterile transfer is easy.

Question 38

Which is one of the six process-associated parameters associated with sterilization?

A) Steam quality
B) Wrapper capacity
C) Cost to operate radiation sterilization
D) Saturation and penetration

Question 39

Which is an advantage of using ozone gas sterilization?

A) Multiple settings for each cycle
B) Inexpensive cost per each load
C) High temperature heats instruments and sterilizes well
D) Can be used to sterilize implants and flexible endoscopes

Question 40

In order to destroy prions,such as those in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,how long must they be sterilized?

A) Chemically sterilized for 10 minutes in Cavicide
B) Steam sterilized for a minimum of 1 hour at 270° F after soaking in sodium hydroxide for 1 hour
C) Soaked in ethylene oxide for at least 30 minutes,then dry heat sterilized for 10 minutes
D) Rinsing in sterile water at 240° F for 1 hour then rinsing in Cavicide

Question 41

Which class of chemical indicator is placed on the exterior of the package or item before processing?

A) Class 1
B) Class 3
C) Class 4
D) Class 5

Question 42

What method assures that sterilization conditions have been achieved during the steam sterilization process?

A) Bowie-Dick test
B) Negative biologic control
C) Negative biologic indicator
D) Class 2 auto test