Chapter 14 - High temperature sterilization

Bioburden

The number of microorganisms on an object; also called “bioload” or “microbial load.”

Saturated steam

Steam that contains the maximum amount of water vapor

Noncondensable gases

Gases that cannot be liquified by compression under the conditions of temperature and pressure used during the sterilization process

(Workbook) The interior chamber walls of the sterilizer are heated by steam in the

metal jacket of the sterilizer

(Workbook) Designed to maintain a tight seal that prevents steam from escaping the chamber of a sterilizer

the gasket

(Workbook) Located in the floor of the steam sterilizer

Chamber drain

(Workbook) The portion of the steam sterilizer that measures steam temperature and automatically controls the flow of air and condensate from the sterilizer chamber in the

thermostatic trap

(Workbook) Provides a written record of sterilizer cycle activities

Charts and printouts

(Workbook) Gravity displacement

sterilizers remove air from the chamber by using steam to force the cooler air in the chamber out through the drain

(Workbook) The most frequent cause for sterilization failure is lack of steam

contact

(Workbook) Inadequate exposure 

time at the correct elevated temperature is a reason for sterilization failure

(Workbook) Another name for super-heated steam is 

dry steam

(Workbook) Placing warm, sterilized packages on cool surfaces will cause

condensation to form

(Workbook) When loading a steam sterilizer, basins should be 

placed on edge

(Workbook) The higher the level of bioburden on an object, the:

more difficult it will be to sterilize

(Workbook) When combining loads, the proper way to load a sterilizer is to place:

Rigid containers on the bottom shelf

(Workbook) Which of the following does not affect sterilization?

How the user department tells the sterile processing staff to sterilize it

(Workbook) Sterile processing technicians need to understand the anatomy of a steam sterilizer to

Understand how the sterilizer operates

(Workbook) The weakest part of a steam sterilizer is the 

door

(Workbook) The three main phases of a terminal steam sterilizer cycle are

• Conditioning

• exposure

• exhaust

(Workbook) The most common reason for steam sterilization failure is

Lack of steam contact with the contents of the load

(Workbook) The coolest area in the steam sterilizer is the

drain

(Workbook) Which of the following is not part of the sterilizer physical monitor printout?

Statement of guarantee of sterility

(Workbook) Factors that can cause sterilant contact failure are 

Devices with soil remaining

(Workbook) One common cause of a clogged drain screen is

Tape

(Workbook) A sterilizer cart can be unloaded

When an infrared device shows that the items have cooled to room temperature

(Workbook) For sterilization, peel pouches should be placed

on edges, paper to plastic

(Workbook) What can create a pathway for microorganisms to travel from the outside of a package to the inside of a package?

Moisture

(Workbook) How frequently should a sterilizer’s chamber drain strainer be removed and cleaned?

Daily

How long can items that have undergone IUSS be stored?

They cannot be stored

What is used daily to ensure air removal in pre-vacuum steam sterilizers

Bowie-Dick test

Why is it important to document wet packs?

Because of the complexity of the issue

Which of the following can cause a wet pack?

Heavy or dense instrument sets

Where is the thermostatic trap located?

in the drain line

[workbook] The drain screen in a steam sterilizer must be cleaned:

At least daily

[workbook] Following steam sterilization, which of the following is NOT a factor of cooling time, the:

Time it is needed for a procedure

[workbook] How often should a steam sterilizer door gasket be inspected and wiped clean?

Daily

[workbook] One of the benefits of using a sterilizer with a jacket is that the jacket:

Minimizes the amount of condensation that forms when hot steam contacts the chamber walls

[workbook] When combining loads, where should hard goods, such as rigid containers, be placed:

On the bottom of the load

[workbook] The length of time it takes for a sterilized item to cool depends on the:

• Item’s density

• Type of packaging used

• Type of sterilization method used