SURG TECH FINAL

Which plan is NOT a basic design of the surgical services department?

• Circular

The humidity of the operating room should be no higher than

• - 60%

When an electrical charge is in motion, it is referred to as a(n) ____.

• Electrical Current

What is used to create a pathway for electrical current to be returned from the patient back to the ESU?

• Grounding Pad

  
  

  What is NOT a factor to remember concerning the safety of the surgical technologist and ionizing radiation?

  • age

  
  

  Hypodermic needles should ____, to avoid needle stick injury.

• Be recapped using the one-handed method
  
  

  Latex is made from which substance harvested from trees found in warm tropical climates?

• - Rubber

Which type of latex allergy is the least serious?

• - Type IV

To help prevent hypothermia in the surgical patient, the room temperature should be maintained between ____ degrees Fahrenheit.

• - 68-73 degree

Which three components referred to as the fire triangle can result in a fire or explosion?

• - source of ignition, flammable gas or liquid, O2

What name is given to the room in the surgery department that contains sinks for gross decontamination of instruments?

• Decontamintion

  
  

  Lasers can cause damage to the eyes, and it is important for the surgical technologist to wear appropriate eye protection while the laser is in use. Which laser can cause corneal burns?

• c02

As bone cement hardens, it expands within the medullary canal, causing intramedullary hypertension that can lead to ____.

• Fat embolism

To keep the amount of airborne contaminants in the operating room to a minimum, the CDC recommends how many air exchanges per hour?

• 20

What are breakpoints?

• Parts of OR table

Which equipment is designed for disposal of only for Laps and Raytec

• Kick Bucket

What is a Neptune

• Suction device

  
  

  Which of the following is the mnemonic used to remember the steps to take in the event of a surgical fire?

  • - Race

All of the following are articulating breakpoints or removable sections of an operating table EXCEPT:

• Side
  
  

  Which characteristic of surgical overhead lights allows the surgeon to differentiate between the colors of arterial and venous blood or subtle color changes in tissues?

  • - Lightbulbs that approximate sunlight

The emergency shut-off valve for the supply of oxygen into an operating room is designated by which color?

• - green

Why should cabinets and doors within the operating room be recessed into the wall?

• Prevent dust accumulation
  
  

  Where are surgical instrument “booms” mounted in an operating room?

  • The ceiling

How is inhalation of the laser plume best prevented?

• Mechanical smoke evacuator on the field

A severe allergic reaction to a medication, such as penicillin, or to a foreign protein, such as latex, is called

• Anaphylaxis
  
  

  When using the neutral zone technique, a surgical technologist should

  • Ensure communication is established
    
    

    While using this mixture, a scavenging system is used to collect and exhaust or absorb its vapors. It is called

    • - Methyl methacrylate

The area where patients wait within the department before entering the operating room is called

• - The preoperative holding

The term PACU refers to the ____.

• Post-anesthesia care unit
  
  

  Permanent surgical specimens are usually sent to the pathologist in

  • - Formalin

What organization’s mission is to reduce the frequency of fires through the establishment of fire prevention standards?

• - NFPA

The danger of fire in the operating room has been reduced with the introduction of which kind of anesthetic agents?

• - Halogenated

What type of fire extinguisher should be available for use when laser surgery is involved?

• Halon

Chapter 6 Surg:

Matching:
Current that requires a wall outlet and reverses direction periodically

• Alternating
  
  

  Source of direct current with opposite positive and negative terminals

  • - Battery

  
  

  The round, third prong of a three-prong plug, which captures excess leakage current to prevent shocks

  • - ground

The rate at which work is done; measured in watts

• power
  
  

  The component of electricity that causes a conductor to glow or heat up

• - Resistance

The subatomic particles that orbit in shells around a nucleus and are responsible for creating electrical current

• electrons
  
  

  Anything that has mass and occupies space

  • - matter

Materials such as plastic, glass, wood, rubber that inhibit the flow of electrons

• Insulator
  
  

  Gigantic international network of millions of computer servers that in turn serve thousands of individual computers

  • - Internet
    
    

Style of letters chosen in a word-processing program to create a document

• Font

  
  

  Programs that operate a computer system; includes Internet access and word processing. - software
  
  

  Accessory device that converts printed text or graphics into digital format

  • - scanner

Sends computer information over phone or cable lines or satellite systems

• - Modem

Components of a computer: CPU, monitor, and memory storage

• - Modem

Attachment points for computer components: keyboard, speakers, printer

• - Modem

Cartesian coordinate geometry uses the system of graphing mathematical functions and moves the robotic manipulators along the x, y, and z axes.

• - true

The bipolar mode of the ESU can be used only to cut tissue.

• false

A patient return electrode (ground pad) may be repositioned to another site if the gel is still “sticky.”

• - False

Which type of laser uses gases that are toxic and potentially fatal, and therefore rarely used in the OR setting?

• - Excimer

Which type of laser has a wavelength that creates a bright blue-green visible light within a plasma tube?

• - Argon

What is the term for the developing technology of performing a surgical procedure in real time but from a distant location?

• - Telesurgery

The patient return electrode for a patient undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy would MOST likely be placed:

• - On the anterior thigh

What is the name of the complex robotic operating system created and marketed by Intuitive Surgical®?

• - Da Vinci

Which term describes the right and left (side-to-side) movements of a robotic manipulator that has 3-D capability?

• - Yaw

During routine robotic surgery procedures, where is the surgeon?

• - sitting at the robotic console separate from the OR table

Which of the following terms is defined as the number of ways that a robotic manipulator can move?

• - Degrees of freedom

  
  

• Which generation of robots does NOT have any degree of artificial intelligence (AI) and requires consistent oversight?

  • - First

Which of the following lasers falls into the invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, is absorbed by cellular fluid, and is not dependent on tissue color?

• - CO2

When using a bayonet bipolar forceps:

• one side of the forceps collects and returns the current to the generator

Which of the following would MOST likely be the cause of a patient burn from alternate exit pathway of ESU current?

• placement site of electrocardiogram (ECG) leads

In a laser generator, what is found at both ends that allows for the amplification and stimulated emission of laser light?

• - Mirror reflectors

Ebonized or other specially coated instruments should be used when which surgical device is being used in a narrow space?

• CO2 laser hand piece

  
  

  All of the following are examples of tissue interaction with laser light energy EXCEPT:

• - Contraction

To prevent inadvertent activation of the ESU resulting in possible ignition of draping materials, the pencil should be placed in which of the following when NOT in use?

• - Rigid Holster

Which of the following is a safety mechanism engineered into the ESU that alerts the surgical team that the device is being activated?

• Audible tone
  
  

  Which of the following is NOT a type of ESU tip?

  • Trocar

What is the property of the gel portion of the patient return electrode (ground pad) that completes the ESU circuit?

- Conductivity

Which type of gas is used to enhance the effectiveness of the electrosurgical unit active electrode pencil?

- Argon
Resonant frequency capacitive coupling and dielectric breakdown are examples of:

- Electrosurgery burns to personnel
Which of the following modes or settings of the electrosurgical unit (ESU) would NOT require use of a patient return electrode (ground pad)?

- Bipolar
All of the following are components of a three-prong electrical plug EXCEPT:

- Current converter
Specialized equipment in the OR, such as portable x-ray units or laser generators, may require which type of wall outlet that can handle the increased load necessary to power the equipment?

- 220V
The opposite charged ends of a magnet are its:

- Poles
What term describes an item that enhances or allows for the flow of alternating or direct electrical current?

- Conductor
Electricity is dependent upon the free flow of which subatomic particles?

- Electrons
The original instrument developed in the 1920s that used heat on wounds to accelerate blood clotting was the precursor of which piece of standard OR equipment?

- Electrosurgery Unit (ESU)
What term for legal right of an author or photographer over the reproduction of original work?

- Copyright
Which of the following is an Internet address within a document or e-mail that is bolded or underlined and will open a Web page when it is clicked on?

- hyperlink
What is the name of the visual indicator represented by an arrow, blinking line, or hand that appears when the mouse is used to point to something on the screen?

- Cursor

What is the term for the process of starting up when a computer is initially turned on? - booting

What is the term for the small graphic symbols displayed on a monitor screen that represent computer files or programs that a user “clicks” on to open?

- Icon
The clarity of a computer monitor screen image is its:

- Resolution
What is the name of the device that has right and left buttons and a roller and may be a wired or wireless part of a computer used to point and click to items on the monitor?

- Mouse

Chapter 7-A:

Which term means the number of microbes or amount of organic debris on an object at any given time?

- Bioburden
Which of the following chemicals is a high-level disinfectant when items are immersed for 20 to 30 minutes and a sterilant if items remain immersed for 10 hours?

- Glutaraldehyde
The physical or chemical process by which all living microorganisms, including spores, are killed is:

- Sterilization
What is the term for inanimate objects that harbor microorganisms that contribute to environmental contamination?

- Fomites
Which of the following is NOT a classification of patient care items?

- Hypercritical
What is the common name for the high-level disinfectant sodium hypochlorite?

- Bleach
Which of the following is the MOST important factor in a surgical technologist’s role in preventing surgical site infections?

- Strict surgical conscience
CidexTM is the trade name for which of the following methods of sterilization?

- Glutaraldehyde
Which of the following patient care items would be classified as noncritical?

- Pulse oximeters

The skin, hair, nares of OR personnel are reservoirs of bacteria that may cause an SSI in the surgical patient.

- True
The relationship between human hosts and indigenous microflora is called _?

- Symbiosis
Escherichia coli microbes colonize within a human being, forming a type of a symbiotic relationship called?

- Mutualism
As the patient enters the room, he is coughing and has MRSA pneumonia. The patient has a mask on, but it slips repeatedly as his spinal anesthetic is given. The microbes could be transmitted by?

- Droplet
During the case, the circulator’s hand extends over the sterile field to point out an instrument to be used; you know that unsterile never reaches over sterile due to possible fallout of microbes and dead skin cells. Microbes could be transmitted by the mode of?

- Direct contact
Proper operating room (OR) attire includes appropriate hair cover for head and face (completely covered) and donned first, the use of _____________ to prevent splash transmission, health care facility laundering or approved commercial laundering of surgical scrub attire, no jewelry, no fingernail polish/artificial nails, shoe covers removed/changed when contaminated prior to exiting room, and cover apparel when exiting the department.

- Eyewear Matching:

Parasitism

• Type of symbiosis where one benefits and the other is harmed

Bioburden

• Number of microbes or organic debris with which an object is contaminated

Fomite

• An inanimate object that harbors microorganisms

Pathogen-

• Microbe capable of causing disease

Asepsis

• Absence of pathogenic organisms

Event-related sterility

• Sterility to handling of an item rather than time elapsed

Surgical site infection

• -  Type of healthcare-acquired infection

  Spore

• -  Persistent form of certain types of bacteria that allows it to survive in adverse conditions

  Cross-contamination

• -  Contamination of a person or object by another

  Sterile

• -  Free of all microorganisms, including spores

  Gram-negative rod that causes Ulcers:

- Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori)

Gram-negative rod found commonly in burns:
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)

Most common SSI pathogen:
- Staphylococcus Aureus (S. aureus)

Gram-positive aerobic cocci, causes Rheumatic Fever: - Streptococcus Pyogenes (S. pyogenes)

Pathogen outside of the intestine, common in UTIs: - Escherichia Coli (E. coli)

Virus causing chronic disease without jaundice: - Hepatitis C

Spore-forming, anaerobic, gram-positive rod which causes gas gangrene: - Clostridium Perfringens (C. perfringens)

Transmissible airborne nuclei identified by a positive acid-fast stain:

- Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
What is an opportunistic fungus that affects the immunocompromised?

- Candida Albicans (C. albicans)
Which one is a prion transferred via items contaminated with CNS tissue:

- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Prions

- Proteinaceous infectious particles; nonliving protein strands that do not contain DNA or RNA

Helminths
- Popularly known as worms; primary route of transmission is ingestion of contaminated

food or water that contains the worms or eggs Prokaryotes

• -  Less complex organisms whose organelles are not membrane bound Viruses

• -  Nonliving particles that are completely reliant on the host cell for survival; contains either DNA or RNA

  Spores

• -  A resistant form of bacteria that can form a protective shell and remain dormant to

  survive in adverse conditions then reproduce when conditions become favorable again End of matching

  Chapter 7-B:

  Notes from Review Environmental Decontamination (Pg142)

- An important part of asepsis is minimizing microbial count in the OR environment. OR is designed to minimize contamination. Washable floors and walls and easily cleaned furniture are required in every OR.

Environmental Services (pg 142-43)

- Regulated waste must be placed in leak proof bags that are either clearly marked with the biohazard symbol or are in red in color. Only contamination waste should be put in these designated bags because they are more costly to dispose of than common hospital waste.

Decontamination Practices in the OR: Prior to the first procedure of the day (Pg143)
- Prior to the start of the first surgical procedure of the day, the OR furniture, equipment,

surfaces and lights must be “damp dusted” with a disinfectant solution on a lint-free cloth. Following actions should be accomplished:

• ●  Clean all surfaces in the OR, paying particular attention to horizontal surfaces

• ●  Damp dusting should begin with the highest surface, such as the OR light, to the lowest. (Top to bottom, inward to outward) This avoids the settling of dust on objects that have already been damp-dusted.

• ●  OR table mattress pads should be removed in order to clean both sides and the surfaces and hinges of the OR table underneath the pads.

  Decontamination Practices in the OR: Intraoperative Decontamination (Pg 143)

- Actions are accomplished by the surgical technologist during a surgical procedure. These

activities are secondary to paying close attention to the surgical procedure and working with the surgeon one on one where appropriate, such as during a minor procedure.

• ●  A basin with sterile water should be available within the sterile field for the soaking and cleaning of instruments. Never use saline, as the salt in the solution can cause pitting and corrosion of the metal.

• ●  Instruments that are not easily cleaned with a sponge, such as orthopedic reamers and rasps, should be kept in a basin of sterile water to prevent the drying of blood.

• ●  Instruments with a lumen should be periodically flushed with sterile water to prevent the lumen from becoming clogged.

• ●  Surgical instruments that become contaminated by falling on the floor should be retrieved by the circulator and placed in a basin that contains water or disinfectant solution

  Decontamination Practices in the OR: Decontamination Between Procedures (Pg143-44)

- CDC recommends that all ORs be cleaned between procedures. This means removing all

solid linen and waste bags, wiping down the OR furniture and surgical lights, mopping

the floor and if necessary spot cleaning the walls. The ST along with the environmental services may be involved in the Turnover of the room which marks preparation for the next procedure.

• -  ST is responsible for disposing of the sharps by placing them into the puncture-proof sharps container. The container should not be allowed to overflow and should be immediately replaced when full.

• -  Most healthcare facilities have some type of case cart system in place. The case cart system is an efficient method for transporting surgical equipment, supplies, and instruments to the OR and back to the CSPD for reprocessing. Use of a small elevator (Dumbwaiter) may be used to transfer the cart to the CSPD.

  Terminal Cleaning (Pg144)

• -  Each facility has its own end-of-day or terminal cleaning routine. This entails a more

  thorough cleaning of rooms and areas outside of the ORs after the last case of the day has

  been completed.

• -  Ceilings and floors, including surgical lights, are wiped down. Ceilings and floors can be

  wiped using a sponge mop.

• -  All furniture is wiped down, including the legs, casters, or wheels

• -  Furniture and equipment is moved to one side of the room and the OR floor is thoroughly

  wetted/ flooded with a disinfectant solution, left to soak and then wet vacuumed. Weekly cleaning (Pg 145)

- Certain cleaning and disinfection practices are scheduled on a weekly basis by health care facilities. Areas that are usually addressed in the weekly cleaning schedule policy of the facility:

• ●  Ceilings, walls and floors should be thoroughly cleaned inside and outside of the ORs including outside corridors

• ●  Mounted lighting fixtures should be cleaned

• ●  Air vents and heating duct grills must be vacuumed to remove dust laden with

  bacteria

• ●  Inside and outside of supply cabinets, including shelves

• ●  Sterile supply rooms and equipment storage areas should be cleaned

• ●  Housekeeping supply rooms should be cleaned

Dirty Case (Pg 145)
- Dirty cases, which are scheduled as the last case of the day, required additional cleaning

measures.
Surgical Instrument Decontamination Process (Pg 145)

• -  All instruments must be sterile before they are placed into the sterile field. Including sterile from all microbes, including spores.

• -  Decontamination Room is a separate area usually adjacent to the CSPD

  • ●  Minimum air exchange rate is 10 times per hour and negative pressure maintained

  • ●  Temp should be maintained between 64- 70 degrees F. With a humidity level of

    35-72 percent. Cleaning (Pg145-49)

• -  First step of decontamination begins at the point of use (surgical procedure). The ST is responsible for presoaking contaminated instruments to prevent the drying of organic matter. Following solutions may be used by the ST for soaking the instruments.

  • ●  Sterile water; do not use saline as it will pit (corrode) the metal on the instrument, permanently damaging the instrument and leading to the formation of rust.

  • ●  Enzymatic Solution

    • -  Proteolytic enzymatic cleaner: removes protein material such as blood.

    • -  Lipolytic enzymatic cleaner: removes fatty material such as adipose tissue

      and bone marrow

  • ●  Detergent solutions

  • ●  Place heavy instruments on the bottom of the trays and not on top of smaller and/or delicate instruments

  • ●  Instruments with ring handles should be unratcheted (opened) and strung using an instrument stringer that keeps the instrument open.

  • ●  Instruments with multiple parts should be disassembled

• -  Ideally, a 3 sink arrangement is utilized for cleaning

  • ●  First sink: wash sink with water and detergent solution

  • ●  Second sink: intermediate rinse with distilled water.

  • ●  Third sink: final rinse with distilled water

• -  Manually cleaning of instruments is a 3-step process

  • ●  Immerse instrument in a solution of lukewarm water, detergent, and or enzymatic

    cleaner with a neutral pH. Hot water should not be used to initially rinse instruments to avoid blood and tissue from being set with heat on the metal surface. The instrument and brush must be kept submerged in the solution during cleaning to prevent contaminated water droplets from aerosolizing

  • ●  Rinse instruments in distilled water. Do not use tap water because it contains minerals

  • ●  To avoid spotting of instruments, they should be immediately dried after rinsing

• -  Washer- Decontaminator

● WD

• -  Pre-rinse cycle: Some models allow the use of an enzymatic solution in

  the phase.

• -  Cleaning cycle: detergent solution is used in this cycle

• -  Final Rinse: Hot water is used during this rinse. The water temp is

  maintained at 180-195 Degrees F.

• -  Drying phase: high temp is used to dry the instruments

• -  These units allow totally hands-off processing

• -  At conclusion of the cycle items are considered clean and have been

  exposed to an intermediate level of disinfection. Makes items safe for handling but not ready for immediate use in surgery.

  - Washer Sterilizer

• ●  If soil is not removed or instruments are improperly arranged, the remaining soil

  may not be removed during the wash phase and could be baked on during the sterilization phase, possibly damaging the stainless steel and making the removal of such baked-on materials difficult.

• ●  Free rinsing, low sudsing detergent will leave residue on instruments and may cause overflow of detergent solution and decrease the efficiency of the pumps within the machine

- Pre-Rinse is a continuous cool or tepid (lukewarm) water (always lukewarm)

does not incorporate a sterilizing phase

- Lubrication (milking) of instruments after sterilization -Ultrasonic Cleaner

• ●  The ultrasonic cleaner utilizes the process of cavitation for cleaning

• ●  Machine works by using high-frequency sound waves that are converted to vibrations in

  the solution

• ●  Not considered a true disinfecting process but rather a method of cleaning

  instrumentation. The cleaning solution must be frequently changed due to the increase of bioburden with each use. The process creates fine aerosols that may contain microbes harmful to personnel. Cycles last 4-5 mins.

  Instruments Requiring special care in cleaning and disinfection (Pg 149)

• -  Items with lumens, such as trocar sheaths, nondisposable suction tips, and endoscopic

  instruments, require special care to ensure adequate decontamination

• -  Lumen should be flushed until clear fluid emerges. Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent

  flushing agent for clearing the lumen for blood.

• -  The lumen must be rinsed with distilled water to flush away the hydrogen peroxide.

• -  Powered instruments must never be submerged in a cleaning solution or placed in any

  type of mechanical decontaminating equipment.

• -  Powered instruments may require oiling to maintain optimum motor efficiency

• -  2 types of endoscopes: flexible and rigid.

  Rigid Endoscopes (pg 149)

- Using a handheld water pressure gun for washing and compressed air for drying will aid

in the cleaning process. The endoscope must be dry before storage to prevent bacterial

growth. Lubrication (pg150)

- Last step before instruments are reassembled and prepared for sterilization, they must be lubricated for optimal function. (Milking)

Sterilization Principles and Process (Pg150)

• ●  No gray area with sterility, an time is either sterile or it is not sterile

• ●  Instruments must be checked for function and integrity and prepared for sterilization.

• ●  Includes Immediate use steam sterilization, in which the item is placed on an open tray or

  covered rigid container that is specially designed to allow rapid steam penetration. Items

that are sterilized by a liquid chemical process are not packaged and require an immediate

transfer from the point of sterilization to the point of use. ● Packaging material must meet 3 performance standards

• -  Packaging material must be able to maintain the sterility of the items until use

• -  Material should not permit the package to be opened in a manner that allows for

  easy removal of the sterile items without contamination.

• -  The packaging material should allow the sterilizing agent to penetrate and reach

  all surface areas of the items to be sterilized General Principles of Packaging (Pg 154)

• -  Maz size for linen packages 12 in. high x 12in wide x 20 in long. Must not weigh more than 12 lbs.

• -  Double sequential wrapping is essential for proper bacterial barrier

• -  Must be inspected for holes, tears, perforations, and seal integrity

• -  ANSI/AAMI recommends instrument sets should not exceed 25 lbs

  Envelope and square folds for wrapping (pg155)

• -  Most common type of packaging method is the envelope or diagonal fold and is more

  useful for smaller instrument trays and individual items.

• -  The square fold is useful for large packs and large instrument trays

  Labeling (Pg157)

- Packages must be labeled before being sterilized. All information can be recorded on the

chemical indicator tape or on the plastic portion of the peel packs. Include:

• -  Name of contents

• -  Date of sterilizaiton

• -  ID of the sterilizer used

• -  Cycle or load number

• -  Initials of the employee who prepared and processed the package

• -  The department to which the package belongs

• -  Julian date (day of the year)

  Steam sterilization (pg 158)

- Five factors are critical to the outcome of the sterilization: time, contact, temp, moisture, and pressure

Bowie Dick Test (Pg 161)

• -  Done at the beginning of each day for the Preevaccum type of sterilization cycle to check

  for air removal and entrapment.

• -  Done before the start of the day, before any loads are sterilized, or after the sterilizer has

  gone through repairs.

• -  Also known as Daily Air Removal Test (DART)

  Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (Pg161)

• -  Formerly known as “Flash”

• -  Sterilizing unwrapped items

• -  Sterilization of implantable items should not be practiced by any healthcare facility

  Steam sterilization minimum exposure temperature, pressures, and times (Pg161)

• -  Gravity sterilizers are 250-75 degrees F at 1-17 psi

• -  Dynamic air removal (Prevacuum) sterilizers temperature is 270-75 degrees F at 27-30

  psi

• -  Four methods of monitoring the sterilization process: 1. Mechanical 2. Chemical 3.

  Biological 4. Administrative (Documentation) Biological Indicators (BI):

• -  Steam BI Geobacillus Stearothermophilus. Incubated for 24 hours at 131-140 degrees F

• -  EtO and BI Bacillus atropheus. Incubated for 48 hours but is able to be read after 24

  hours at 95-98.6 degrees F Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma (Pg165)

• -  (HPGP) known as Sterrad, safer than EtO

• -  Plasma creates free radicals (hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl) inactivating all microbial life.

• -  BI is Bacillus atropheus

  Liquid Chemical Sterilization (Pg166)

• -  Alternative to steam under pressure and EtO appropriate for items that are heat sensitive

  but moisture stable

• -  2 primary liquid chemical sterilization compounds are peracetic acid used in the Steris

  System, and glutaraldehyde (Cidex)

• -  Peracetic acid is a strong sterilant and should be handled carefully.

• -  Steris system heats the sterilant to only 122 degrees F. Ionizing Radiation (pg166)

• -  Done outside of the hospital facility

• -  Uses a process of irradiation to produce thermal and chemical energy which causes death

  of all microbes and spores by disrupting DNA

Admin

• -  Includes all test results that are filed as a permanent record for each sterilizer.

• -  In health care documentation is key

• -  “If it isn't documented, it didn't happen”

  Event-Related Sterility (pg 166)

• -  A concept that replaced the older time-related system.

• -  This means sterility of an item is determined by how it is handled and that contamination

  is “event-related” rather than “time-related” Surgical Conscience (Pg167)

• -  Basis for strict sterile technique by all ST’s

• -  There can be no compromise of sterile technique

Controls of Sterilization Processes (pg166)