Chapter 7 Wilkins (personal) Infection Control & Clinical Procedures Exam 1

Critical Items are?

These items should be disposed or sterilized using a heat sterilizer.

Examples are - surgical instruments, scalers, probes, needles & scalpel blades.

Semi Critical Items are?

Have lower risk of transmitting disease than do critical items but still dispose.

Examples are - mouth mirrors & impression trays

Contact Surfaces are?

pens, light switches, draw handles, faucets, door knobs, telephones, EPA (environment protection agency) registered for disinfect

What are housekeeping surfaces?

floors, walls, sinks, bathrooms, or any that poses no risk of disease transmission

Processing Center Function

It is used for care, cleaning, packaging, sterilization, & storage

3 Ways to do Pre-cleaning Procedures

manual scrubbing, instrument washer/thermal disinfect, & ultrasonic processing

5 approved methods to sterilizing

-autoclave (steam under pressure)

-dry heat

-chemical vapor

-flash (immediate use steam steril.)

-cold steril. (chemical - not recommended)

autoclave - what microorganisms is used for testing?

geobacillus stearotheromophilus, vials, ampules, or strips (formerly bacillus sterothermophilus)

dry heat oven - what microorganisms is used for testing?

bacillus atrophaeus (formerly bacillus subtilis)

chemical vapor - what microorganisms is used for testing?

G stearothermophilus strips (formerly B. serothermophilus)