Stupidly long standard procautions

Hand hygiene reduces

Transmission of microorganisms between patients and healthcare workers.

Alcohol-based sanitizer not effective against

C. difficile spores.

Soap and water required after

Caring for patients with infectious diarrhea.

Glove removal contamination risk

Hands may become contaminated during glove removal.

Gown protects against

Contamination of clothing and skin.

Mask protects against

Droplet exposure to nose and mouth.

Eye protection protects against

Splash or spray exposure to eyes.

Respirator protects against

Airborne infectious particles.

PPE must be removed

Before leaving the patient room.

PPE must be donned

Before entering the patient room.

Contact precautions prevent

Transmission through direct or indirect contact.

Droplet precautions prevent

Transmission through large respiratory droplets.

Airborne precautions prevent

Transmission through airborne particles.

AIIR required for

Airborne pathogens like TB, measles, varicella.

AIIR airflow direction

Air flows into room, not out.

AIIR door must remain

Closed to maintain negative pressure.

Environmental cleaning reduces

Microbial contamination on surfaces.

High-touch surfaces cleaned

More frequently than low-touch surfaces.

Disinfectant contact time

Surface must stay wet for full time to be effective.

EPA-registered disinfectant required for

Healthcare environmental cleaning.

Spill cleanup requires

Appropriate PPE and disinfectant.

Blood spill disinfectant must be

Effective against bloodborne pathogens.

Reusable equipment must be

Cleaned and disinfected between patients.

Single-use items must be

Discarded after one use.

Sterilization required for

Critical items entering sterile tissue.

High-level disinfection required for

Semicritical items contacting mucous membranes.

Low-level disinfection required for

Noncritical items contacting intact skin.

Manual cleaning removes

Organic material before disinfection.

Mechanical cleaning reduces

Risk of sharps injuries.

Ultrasonic cleaning removes

Debris from complex instrument surfaces.

Washer-disinfector provides

Automated cleaning and disinfection.

Steam sterilization is

Most common and reliable sterilization method.

ETO sterilization used for

Heat- and moisture-sensitive devices.

Hydrogen peroxide plasma used for

Heat-sensitive materials.

Peracetic acid used for

Endoscopes and surgical instruments.

Biological indicators confirm

Sterilization by killing resistant spores.

Chemical indicators confirm

Exposure to sterilization parameters.

Physical monitors track

Time, temperature, and pressure.

Sterile storage must be

Clean, dry, and low-traffic.

Sterile items remain sterile until

Packaging is compromised.

Sharps injuries prevented by

Using safety-engineered devices.

Sharps must be disposed in

Puncture-resistant containers.

Sharps container replaced when

Two-thirds full.

Sharps container must be

Closeable, leakproof, and labeled.

Regulated waste includes

Blood-soaked items and sharps.

Nonregulated waste includes

Items with small amounts of dried blood.

Specimens must be placed in

Leak-proof, labeled containers.

Specimen bags must have

Biohazard symbol.

Respiratory hygiene reduces

Spread of respiratory infections.

Visitors must follow

Same PPE rules as healthcare workers.

Housekeeping surfaces definition

Environmental surfaces such as floors, walls, and tabletops that require routine cleaning.

Medical equipment surfaces definition

Surfaces on equipment frequently touched during patient care.

Barrier coverings purpose

Protect equipment surfaces that are difficult to clean.

High-touch housekeeping surfaces examples

Doorknobs, bedrails, light switches, privacy curtain edges.

Cleaning immunosuppressed patient areas

Use wet dusting and avoid methods that disperse dust.

HEPA filter use in immunosuppressed areas

Used in vacuums to remove fine particles.

Blood spill cleanup disinfectant

Use EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant or bleach solution.

Bleach dilution for blood spills

1:1

dilution for nonporous surfaces.

Large blood spill first step

Absorb visible material with disposable towels.

Reprocessing definition

Cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing reusable medical devices.

Noncritical item examples

BP cuffs, stethoscopes, bedpans, crutches.

Semicritical item examples

Endoscopes, respiratory therapy equipment.

Critical item examples

Surgical instruments, implants, vascular devices.

Manual cleaning risk

Increases risk of sharps injuries.

Ultrasonic cleaner function

Uses sound waves to remove debris from instruments.

Washer-disinfector loading rule

Open hinged instruments fully and avoid stacking.

Biofilm resistance

Biofilms protect bacteria from disinfectants.

Low-level disinfection examples

Quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolics.

Intermediate-level disinfection examples

Alcohols, iodophors, sodium hypochlorite.

High-level disinfection examples

Glutaraldehyde, OPA, hydrogen peroxide.

Wet pasteurization parameters

7

°C for 3

minutes.

Steam sterilization most common

Most widely used and dependable sterilization method.

Flash sterilization indication

Used when there is insufficient time for standard sterilization.

ETO sterilization parameters

Gas concentration, temperature, humidity, exposure time.

Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma use

For heat- and humidity-sensitive devices.

Peracetic acid sterilization use

For endoscopes and surgical instruments.

Dry heat sterilization use

For powders, oils, and sharp instruments.

Mechanical sterilization indicators

Monitor time, temperature, and pressure.

Chemical sterilization indicators

Change color when exposed to sterilization conditions.

Biological sterilization indicators

Use resistant spores to confirm sterilization.

Sterile storage humidity limit

Below 6

% humidity.

Sterile storage temperature limit

72–7

Sterile package event-related sterility

Package remains sterile unless compromised.

Packaging material requirement

Must allow sterilant penetration and prevent contamination.

Peel pouch rule

Used for small, lightweight instruments.

Rigid container rule

Used for heavy or complex instrument sets.

Roll stock packaging use

Cut-to-size tubing sealed at both ends.

Sterile supply storage rule

Store in clean, dry, low-traffic areas.

Single-use device definition

Device intended for one-time use only.

Single-use device reprocessing risk

Some devices may pose increased risk when reused.

CRE outbreak cause example

Improper endoscope reprocessing can transmit resistant organisms.

Waste management purpose

Reduce microbial load and ensure safe disposal.

Regulated medical waste examples

Microbiology waste, bulk blood, pathology waste, sharps.

Chemical disinfection waste treatment

Used to treat liquid medical waste.

Microwave waste treatment

Uses energy to disinfect medical waste.