disinfection week 1

Practice vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes for MDR 111 focusing on sterilization methods, D-values, log reductions, and Spaulding's Classification.

CAN/CSA Z314-18

The Canadian Medical Device Reprocessing national standard and government regulation system that ensures medical devices are safe for reuse and perform as intended by the manufacturer.

Steam Sterilization

The MOST common method of sterilizing used within the Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) department.

Ethylene Oxide (EtO)

A chemical sterilization process considered when steam sterilization cannot be utilized.

Low-temperature sterilization

Sterilization methods, such as Dry heat or Irradiation, developed for equipment like endoscopes that are heat and moisture sensitive.

Sterilization

The total inactivation or destruction of all microorganisms, including spores, resulting in an absolute state where all organisms are destroyed.

Bioburden

The number of microorganisms present on an object before sterilization; a larger amount of bioburden requires a longer time to destroy.

D-value

The amount of time required to kill $90\%$ of the microorganisms present (a $1$-log reduction) under specified conditions such as temperature and sterilant concentration.

Sterility assurance level (SAL)

A requirement of $10^{-6}$ for sterilization procedures, meaning there is a probability of not more than one viable microorganism in one million sterilized items.

D6

A stage of microbial kill corresponding to a $99.9999\%$ kill (a $6$-log reduction), where not more than one bug is allowed to survive for every million present.

Log Reduction

A $10$-fold (one decimal place) or $90\%$ reduction in Colony Forming Units (CFUs).

Log 4 Reduction

A reduction that represents $10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10$ ($10,000$) and leaves $100$ CFUs from an initial $1,000,000$ CFUs, written as a $99.99\%$ reduction.

Critical (Spaulding's Classification)

Devices that enter sterile body tissue, the vascular system, or the bloodstream; these items require sterilization.

Semi-critical (Spaulding's Classification)

Devices that come into contact with intact mucous membranes or non-intact skin but do not penetrate them; these require high-level disinfection.

Non-critical (Spaulding's Classification)

Devices that come into contact with intact skin or have no direct contact; these require intermediate or low-level disinfection.

Protein Coagulation

A process caused by heat where proteins on an unclean device harden and protect pathogens during sterilization, potentially allowing them to survive and multiply.