Chapter 9

Disinfection

Bactericidal

A substance that kills bacteria

Disinfectant

A chemical that kills most pathogenic organisms but does not kill all spores

Disinfection

The destruction of nearly all pathogenic microorganisms on an inanimate (non-living) surface

Spaulding classification System

A system developed by Dr. E. H. Spaulding that divides medical devices into categories based on the risk of infection involved with their use.

Sterile/sterilization

Completely devoid of all living microorganisms

High-level disinfection (HLD)

The destruction of all vegetative microorganisms, but not bacterial spores.

Low-level disinfection

The destruction of some vegetative forms of bacteria.

Intermediate-level disinfection

The destruction of viruses, mycobacteria, fungi and vegetative bacteria (but not bacterial spores).

Organic materials

Compounds containing oxygen, carbon and hydrogen; derived from living organisms. Organic matter in the form of serum, blood, pus, or fecal material can interfere with the activity of disinfectants

Activated (activation)

Process by which a solution is combined with an activating chemical before use. Glutaraldehyde, for example, must be mixed with an activating solution before use.

Minimum Effective concentration (MEC)

The percentage concentration of the active ingredient in a disinfectant or chemical sterilant that is the minimum concentration at which the chemical meets all its label claims for activity against specific microorganisms.

This low-level disinfectant is incompatible with soap:

Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats)

When working with glutaraldehyde, technicians should always wear

Nitrile gloves

How are items that have undergone high-level disinfection (HLD) dried?

With HEPA-filtered air

In a washer-disinfector, the key source of disinfection is

Water temperature

The use of test trips to test the minimum effective concentration (MEC) in HLD solutions is required:

Each time the solution will be used

The use of heat to kill all microorganisms, except spores is called

Thermal disinfection

These chemicals are used on animate (Living tissue) items to slow the growth of microorganisms:

Antiseptics

Items introduced directly into the bloodstream or other normally sterile areas of the body are classified as

Critical items

The process by which all forms of microorganisms are completely destroyed is

Sterilization

Iodophors are a member of this chemical family:

Halogens

Phenolics are classified as

Low to intermediate level disinfectants

Which of the following are classified as high-level disinfectants?

Glutaraldehydes and OPA

Thermal Disinfection is accomplished using

Heat

How long must alcohol remain in wet contact with an item to achieve a reasonable level of disinfection

5 to 10 minutes

Which of the following chemicals would be the best choice for HLD of instruments?

OPA

Semi-critical items

These items come in contact with intact mucous membranes, except dental

Non-critical items

Touches intact skin

Chlorine

An intermediate level disinfectant that is commonly used for the treatment of water and sewage; often used for biohazard clean up; can damage metal instruments.

Iodophors

buffed ions; used as an antiseptics and disinfectants; should not be used on surgical instruments