Instrument Processing - Chapter 13

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and definitions from Chapter 13: Instrument Processing in dental settings.

Instrument processing

A collection of procedures that prepares contaminated instruments for reuse, preventing transmission of pathogens and minimizing instrument damage.

CDC Health Advisory (in dentistry)

Guidelines including manufacturer reprocessing instructions, labeling sterilized items, and routine maintenance of equipment.

Sterilization

Process designed to kill all microorganisms, including bacterial endospores; the highest level of microbial kill.

Disinfection

A less lethal process than sterilization that kills disease-causing microorganisms but not bacterial endospores.

Critical items

Items that enter sterile tissues or the vascular system and require sterilization.

Semi-critical items

Items contacting mucous membranes or non-intact skin; require high-level disinfection or sterilization.

Noncritical items

Items contacting intact skin; require cleaning and low-level disinfection.

Universal sterilization

All reusable instruments and handpieces are sterilized between patient uses.

Sterility assurance

The correct performance of processing steps and monitoring of sterilization with biological, mechanical, and chemical indicators.

Biological indicators

Live-spore indicators used to verify the effectiveness of sterilization.

Chemical indicators

Indicators (tape/strips) that change color to show exposure to process conditions; can be external or internal.

Mechanical indicators

Gauges and displays that monitor time, temperature, and pressure during sterilization.

Presoaking

Holding contaminated instruments in solution before cleaning.

Pre-cleaning

Initial removal of debris before thorough cleaning.

Corrosion control

Steps to prevent instrument corrosion during processing.

Drying

Removing moisture from instruments after sterilization to prevent corrosion and damage.

Lubrication

Applying lubricants to hinged instruments after cleaning.

Packaging

Wrapping and organizing instruments or placing them in sterilization pouches or bags for processing.

Sterilization monitoring

Verifying sterilization through biological, chemical, and mechanical indicators.

Ultrasonic cleaning

Cleaning method using ultrasonic energy; reduces direct handling and provides thorough cleaning.

Instrument washer

Automated machine used to clean instruments.

Manual scrubbing

Hand cleaning with brushes; effective but increases risk of sharps injuries.

Carbon steel corrosion

Carbon steel instruments can rust during steam sterilization; require drying and corrosion control.

Rust inhibitor

Substance used to protect non-stainless items from rust during processing.

Packaging materials compatibility

Packaging material must be compatible with the chosen sterilization method.

Internal indicators

Chemical indicators placed inside packaging to confirm exposure.

External indicators

Chemical indicators on the outside of packaging to show exposure.

Sterilization wrap

Material used to wrap sterilized items to maintain sterility.

Cassettes

Containers used to hold and transport instruments during processing.

Sterilization pouches

Bags used to contain and protect sterilized instruments.

Flash sterilization

Unwrapped, rapid sterilization; not recommended as a routine procedure.

Steam sterilization

Moist-heat sterilization using saturated steam in a closed chamber.

Unsaturated chemical vapor sterilization

Sterilization using a chemical vapor in a closed chamber (no steam).

Dry heat sterilization

Sterilization using hot, dry air in an oven-type chamber.

Sterilizers

Equipment that performs sterilization: steam, chemical vapor, or dry heat.

Spore test

Biological test using bacterial spores to verify sterilization effectiveness.

Sterilization failure

If a spore test indicates survival of spores, sterilization has failed and action is required.

Chemical monitoring indicators

Heat-sensitive chemicals that indicate exposure; includes color-changing tapes/strips and integrated indicators.

Mechanical monitoring

Observation/recording of sterilizer gauges (temperature, pressure, time) to assess performance.

Instrument processing area

Central sterilization room designed for decontamination, packaging, and sterilization/storage; should be accessible and separate from traffic, often with a U-shaped workflow.