Chapter 15- Low temperature sterilization

Sterility assurance level (SAL)

The probability of a viable microorganisms being present on a device after sterilization

permissible Exposure level (PEL)

The maximum amount or concentration of a chemical that worker may be exposed to under OSHA regulations

Time-weighted average (TWA)

The amount of a substance employees can be exposed to over an eight-hour day

Alkylation

A chemical reaction where hydrogen is replaces with an alkyl group; this renders the cell unable to metabolize or reproduce, or both.

Oxidation

Involves the act or process of oxidizing, which is the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons

Aeration

A process in which sterilized packages are subjected to moving air to faciliate removal of toxic residuals after exposure to a sterilizing agent such as EO.

Residual ethylene Oxide (EO)

Amount of EO that remains inside materials after they sterilized

Safety Data sheet (SDS)

• A written statement providing detailed information about a chemical or toxic substances,

• including potential hazards

• appropriate handling methods.

• SDS is provided by the product manufacturer to the buyer and must be available in a place that is easily accessible to those who will use the product.

[workbook] How many air exchanges per hour should there be in a room with ethylene oxide (EO) sterilizer?

10

[workbook] This method of low-temperature sterilization uses gas cartridges for a sterilant 

Ethylene oxide

[workbook] The probability of a visible microorganism being present on an item after sterilization is the 

Sterility assurance level

[workbook] The bacterial spore used to test EO sterilization cycles is

Bacillus atrophaeus

[workbook] This phase of an EO sterilizer cycle immediately follows the sterilization phase

Aeration

[workbook] Geobacillus Stearothermophilus

is a bacterial spore used to test hydrogen peroxide (h2 o2) sterilization cycles

[workbook] Why is proper training for the safe and effective use of low-temperatures sterilization important?

Chemicals used to sterilize instruments have toxic properties

[workbook] When an item undergoes low-temperature sterilization, what is meant by the term “material compatibility?”

There should not be changes in the device’s functionality

[workbook] Which of the following sterilization methods can permeate throughout a wide ranges of materials to reach recessed areas?

Ethylene Oxide (EO)

[workbook] EO-sterilized items are aerated to remove residual

EO

[workbook] Which of the following items can be sterilized by h2 o2?

Telescopes

[workbook] Aeration instructions for a medical device can be found in/on the

Device manufacturer’s IFU

[workbook] Information about a device’s compatibility with a specific sterilization process can be obtained

in the device’s IFU

[workbook] To ensure successful sterilization, the sterilizer chamber should not be

overloaded

[workbook] PELS for low-temperature sterilization methods are established by 

OSHA

SAL

Sterility assurance level

PEL

permissible Exposure level

TWA

Time-weighted average

The following materials are compatible for EO sterilization

• Paper/plastic

• Tyvek peel pouches

• approved fabric wrappers

• medical crepe paper

• polypropylene

• most container systems

EO should NOT be used to sterilize

• Liquids

• energy sources

• Leather items

• aluminum foil

• cellophane

• nylon films

• polyester

• PVC (plastic)

• films

• styrofoam

Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is

corrosive to skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and the gastrointestinal track

[workbook] Which type of employee safety monitor is required when using vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization?

Monitoring is not required

[workbook] Which of the following is NOT considered a physical monitor?

Biological monitoring devices

[workbook] What can cause h2o2 gas plasma sterilizer to abort a cycle?

Excess moisture remaining on devices

[workbook] Which is compatible with H2O2 gas plasma sterilization?

Metal

[workbook] H2O2 is an effective sterilizing agent for:

Some flexible endoscopes