Sterile Processing Midterm Review

Minimally Invasive surgery (MIS)

A surgical procedure performed in a manner that causes little or no trauma or injury to the patient.

Decontamination

to make safe by removing or reducing contamination by infectious organisms or other harmful substances to an acceptable level.

Cleaning

the removal of all visible and non-visible soil and any other foreign material from medical devices being processed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

A part of standard precautions for all healthcare workers to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure when in contact with blood or body fluids of any patient,

Sterilization

Process by which all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, spores and fungi, are completely destroyed.

Instructions for Use (IFU)

Information provided by a device manufacturer that provides detailed instructions on how to properly use and/or process the device.

Case Cart System

An inventory control system for products typically used in an OR that uses an enclosed or covered cart. (typically prepared for one surgical case, not general replishisment)

Case Cart

A cart prepared for an individual procedure. Case Carts usually contain all instruments , supplies, and utensils needed for a specific procedure

Doctor’s (physician’s) preference card

A document that identifies a physician’s needs (requests and preferences) for a specific medical procedure.

Case Cart Pull Sheet (pick list)

A list of specific supplies, utensils, and instruments for a specific procedure. SP tech uses these lists to assemble items needed.

Supply Chain Management

The department that procures and distributes resources and manages supplies, goods, and services to providers and patients.

Standard Procautions

Method of using appropriate barriers to reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne and other pathogens. This standard applies to all patients, regardless of the diagnosis or presumed infectious status.

Healthcare-accociated infection

An infection that is not present when a patient is admitted to a healthcare facility. If the infection develops in a patient on or after day three of admission to the healthcare facility.

Job Description

A human resource tool that idenitfies the major tasks preformed by individuals in specific positions.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms. The scientific study of the nature, life, and action of microorganisms.

Contamination

The state of being soiled by contact with infectious organisms or other materials.

Pathogen

capable of of producing disease.

Micron

1/25,000 of an inch or 1/1000 of a millimeter.

Aerobic

Requiring the presence of air or free oxygen.

Anaerobic

Bacteria that can live in the abscence of atmospheric oxygen.

Endospores (spores)

Microorganisms capable of forming a thick wall around themselves, enabling them to survive in adverse conditions.

Gram Stain

Differential stain used to classify bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative, depending on whether they retain or lose the primary stain (crystal violet) when subjected to a decolorizing agent.

pH

Measure of alkalinity or acidity on a scale of 0 to 14; pH of 7 is neutral; pH below 7 is acidic; pH above 7 is alkaline.

Vegetative stage

state of active growth of microorganisms (as opposed to the resting or spore stages)

Binary fission

The typical method of bacterial reproduction in which a cell divides into two equal parts

Prions

An infectious protein particle that, unlike a virus, contains no nucleic acid, does not trigger an immune response, and is not destroyed by extreme heat or cold.

Surgical Site Infection (SSI)

an infection that occurs after surgery in that part of the body where the surgery took place

Biocidal

Process or ability to kill or control the growth of living organisms

Chain of infection

The six-step process of an infection spreading from one host to the next.

Asepsis

the absence of microorganisms that cause disease

Aseptic technique

any activity that prevents infection or breaks the chain of infection.

Asepsis (medical)

clean technique; procedures preformed to reduce the number of microorganisms and minimize their spread

asepsis (surgical)

Surgical technique: procedures performed to eliminate all microorganisms and/or prevent the introduction of microorganisms into an area.

hand hygiene

the act of washing one’s hands with soap and water or using an alcohol based hand rub

Fomite

an inanimate object that can transmit bacteria

Causative agent

microorganisms (pathogen) that causes an infectious disease

Reservoir

Place where an infectious agent (microorganism) can survive.

Portal of exit

path by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir.

Mode of transmission

Method of transfer of an infectious agent from the reservoir to a susceptible host.

Portal of entry

the path used by an infectious agent to enter a susceptible host

susceptible host

person or animal that lacks the ability to resist an infection by an infectious agent

Parenteral

something that is put inside of the body but not by swallowing (ex: an injection into the muscle)

Colonization

A process in which microorganisms live on or in a host organism but do not invade tissues or cause damage.

Regulation

rules issued by administrative agencies that have the force of law

standard

A uniform method of defining basic parameters for processes, products, services, and measurements.

Best Practice

A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved by other means.

Premarket approval (PMA)

The FDA process involves scientific and regulatory reviews to assess the safety and effectiveness of Class III medical devices.

Serious injury

An injury or illness that is life-threatening and results in permanent impairment of a bodily function or permanent damage to a bodily structure.

Medwatch

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s safety information and adverse event reporting system serves healthcare professionals and the public by reporting serious problems suspected to be associated with the drugs and medical devices they prescribe, dispense, or use.

Medicare

A federal medical insurance program that primarily serves those older than 65 years (regardless of income), people under 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease.

Medicaid

A federal and state assistance program that pays covered medical expenses for low-income individuals. It is run by state and local governments within federal guidelines.

Health Insurance Portablility and Accountablility Act (HIPPA)

The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information.

Standards (AAMI)

Voluntary Guidelines representing a consensus of AAMI members, intended for use by healthcare facilities and manufacturers to help ensure medical instrumentation is safe for patients.

Technical Information Reports (TIRs)

Reports developed by experts in the field that contain valuable information needed by the healthcare industry.

Gross Soil

Tissue, Body fat, blood and other body substances

Biohazard signage

Notices posted in easily seen locations that alert people in the area about the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses, or other dangerous biological agents or organisms.

Biofilm

A collection of microorganisms that attach to surfaces and to each other, forming a colony. The colony produces a protective gel that is very difficult for detergents and disinfectants to penetrate.

Sharps

Cutting instruments, including knives, scalpels, blades, needles, and scissors of all types.

Turnover/turnaround

Term used to describe instruments or equipment that must receive priority processing in order to be made available for another procedure.

Musculoskeletal disorders

Injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.

Decontamination area

The location within a healthcare facility designated for the collection, retention, and cleaning of soiled and contaminated items.

Humidity

amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, expressed as a percentage if the total amount of vapor the atmosphere can hold without condensation

negative pressure

air pressure inside the room that is lower than the air pressure outside of the room causing the air to flow into the room with the lower (negative) air pressure

biohazardous waste

Waste containing infectious agents that present a risk or potential risk to human health.

Utility water

Water as it comes from the tap may need further treatment to achieve the required specifications. The water is mainly used for flushing, washing, and rinsing.

Biocide

A substance or microorganism that kills or controls the growth of living organisms.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

A water purification process by which impurities are removed from water using a semipermeable membrane.

Deionized (DI) water

water that has had all ions removed through an ion exchange process.

Distilled Water

Water that is heated to steam, then allowed to cool and condense.

Cavitation

The process used by an ultrasonic cleaner in which low-pressure bubbles collapse (implode) and dislodge soil from instruments

electroplating

a process that uses electrical current in a solution to produce a metallic coating

impingement

The spray-force action of pressurized water against instruments being processed to physically remove bioburden.

thermal disinfection

Use of heat to reduce the amount of microorganisms (excluding spores) on a medical device.

emulsifier

any ingredient used to bind together substances that typically do not combine such as oil and water.

surfactant

A substance that lowers the surface tension of water and increases the solubility of organic compounds in water.

chelating agents

Chemicals that hold hard water minerals in solution and prevent soap or detergent from reacting with the minerals.

Toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS)

Acute postoperative inflammatory reaction in which a noninfectious substance enters the anterior segment of the eye and induces toxic damage to the intraocular tissues.

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. (ex: serum, blood, pus, fecal matter)

Activated (activation)

process by which a solution is combined with an activating chemical 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.

Stainless steel

An alloy of steel with chromium and sometimes another element, such as nickel or molybdenum, that is highly resistant to rusting and ordinary corrosion.

Sissors

surgical instruments used to cut, incise, and/or dissect tissue

Osteotomes

chisel-like instruments used to cut or shave bone

chisels

wedge-shaped instruments used to cut or shape bone

rongeurs

Surgical instruments used to cut or bite away at bone and tissues.

forceps

instruments used for grasping, holding firmly or exerting traction upon objects

hemostatic forceps

surgical instruments used to control the flow of blood

needle holders

Surgical instruments designed to drive suture needles to close or rejoin a wound or surgical site.

martensitic stainless steel

This metal is also known as 400 series stainless steel. It is magnetic and may be heat hardened.

Retractors

Surgical instruments are primarily used to move tissues and organs to keep the surgical site exposed throughout surgery.

Cannulas

Surgical instruments with a hollow barrel (or lumen) through their center. Cannulas are often inserted for drainage.

Rib spreaders

A retractor used to expose the chest