Deck 18: Sterilization and Disinfection

Question 1

Identify safety signs, symbols, and labels

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

What is the term for an agent that kills disease-producing microorganisms and that usually is applied to inanimate objects?

A) Disinfectant
B) Antiseptic
C) Fungicide
D) Detergent

Answer 2

Disinfectant

Question 3

Discuss infection control procedures

Answer 3

not answered

Question 4

Discuss all levels of governmental legislation and regulation as they apply to medical assisting practice, including FDA and DEA regulations

Question 5

Which of the following is used most often to sterilize articles in the medical office?

A) Dry heat oven
B) Ethylene oxide sterilizer
C) Autoclave
D) Chemical agents

Question 6

Identify safety techniques that can be used to prevent accidents and maintain a safe work environment

Question 7

Which of the following is a characteristic of bacterial spores?

A) They consist of a hard, thick-walled capsule.
B) They represent a resting and protective stage.
C) They are more resistant to heat.
D) They usually cannot be killed by disinfectants.
E) All of the above

Question 8

Discuss requirements for responding to hazardous material disposal

Question 9

Identify personal safety precautions as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Question 10

Which of the following is accomplished through sanitization?

A) Organic matter is removed from the article.
B) All microorganisms are removed from the article.
C) Stains are removed from the article.
D) Spores are killed.
E
All of the above

Question 11

The purpose of the Hazard Communications Standard (HCS) is to ensure that employees

A) Do not come in contact with hazardous chemicals
B) Are protected from bloodborne pathogens in the workplace
C) Practice quality control when performing laboratory tests
D) Are informed of the hazards associated with chemicals in the workplace

Question 12

Describe the importance of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) in a health care setting

Question 13

Medical Office Clinical Procedures

Question 14

Medical Law and Ethics

Question 15

Which of the following is true regarding an MSDS?

A) It provides information regarding hazardous chemicals.
B) It must be kept on file for each hazardous chemical stored in the workplace.
C) It must be readily available to employees.
D) It is available from the manufacturer of the hazardous chemical.
E) All of the above

Question 16

Compare different methods of controlling the growth of microorganisms

Question 17

The agent used to destroy microorganisms on an article depends on the

A) Size of the article
B) Intended use of the article
C) Number of microorganisms present on the article
D) Weight of the article

Question 18

Define both medical terms and abbreviations related to all body systems

Question 19

According to the Hazard Communications Standard, which of the following must be included on the label of a hazardous chemical?

A) Name of the chemical
B) Physical hazards of the chemical
C) Health hazards of the chemical
D) Storing and handling of the chemical
E) All of the above

Question 20

Something that is sterile is free of

A) Pathogens
B) All living microorganisms
C) All living microorganisms and spores
D) Nonpathogens

Question 21

The inside of the autoclave should be wiped every day with

A) A damp cloth
B) A disinfectant
C) A low-sudsing detergent
D) A scouring pad

Question 22

What type of water should be used in the autoclave?

A) Salt water
B) Tap water
C) Distilled water
D) Mineral water

Question 23

The medical assistant should not set the timer on the autoclave until

A) The sterilization indicator changes color
B) The gauge has reached the desired temperature
C) The pressure reaches 15 pounds per square inch
D) Steam enters the inner sterilization chamber

Question 24

Which of the following must be resterilized?

A) A pack that has been dropped
B) A pack that has opened up
C) A pack that has gotten wet
D) A pack that is torn
E) All of the above

Question 25

The wrapper used to autoclave articles should

A) Prevent contaminants from getting in during handling and storage
B) Be made of a substance that does not tear or puncture easily
C) Be made of a substance not affected by the sterilization process
D) Allow steam to penetrate it
E) All of the above

Question 26

Autoclave tape

A) Ensures whether sterilization has occurred
B) Indicates whether the article was in the autoclave
C) Can be used only to close the pack
D) Plays "Jingle Bells" when it has been exposed to steam

Question 27

Which of the following is the best means of determining the effectiveness of the sterilization process?

A) The temperature gauge on the autoclave
B) Biologic indicators
C) Sterilization strips
D) Autoclave tape

Question 28

The purpose of wrapping articles before they are sterilized in the autoclave is to

A) Permit better steam penetration during autoclaving
B) Protect the articles from recontamination after autoclaving
C) Ensure complete destruction of all pathogens
D) Protect the articles from damage
E) All of the above

Question 29

The most reliable sterilization indicators check for

A) Attainment of the proper temperature and the duration of the temperature
B) Whether the article has been in the autoclave
C) Attainment of the proper temperature and pressure
D) Presence of trapped air in the autoclave

Question 30

Utility gloves over clean disposable gloves should be worn during the sanitization procedure to protect the hands from

A) Bloodborne pathogens
B) Infectious materials
C) Irritating chemicals
D) Cuts or punctures
E) All of the above

Question 31

The proper time for sterilizing an article in the autoclave depends on

A) The type of autoclave being used
B) What is being sterilized
C) The type of sterilization indicator being used
D) The intended use of the article

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT true statements regarding sterilization pouches?

A) They provide good visibility of the contents.
B) A sterilization indicator is usually present on the pouch.
C) They can be labeled.
D) They are reusable.

Question 33

Which of the following represents an error in technique when loading the autoclave?

A) Placing articles ½ inch apart
B) Placing glassware on their sides
C) Placing a dressing pack in a vertical position
D) Positioning sterilization pouches on their sides

Question 34

Which of the following would be best to use to wrap a large minor office surgery tray setup?

A) Sterilization pouch
B) Muslin
C) Aluminum foil
D) Sterilization paper

Question 35

Removing a wet pack from the autoclave results in

A) Rusting of metal instruments
B) Dulling of sharp instruments
C) Contamination of the pack
D) Invalid results on the sterilization indicator
E)
All of the above

Question 36

High-level disinfection is a process that

A) Destroys all pathogenic microorganisms
B) Destroys all microorganisms and spores
C) Destroys all microorganisms except tubercle bacilli
D) Destroys all microorganisms, but not spores

Question 37

Which of the following items requires high-level disinfection?

A) Stethoscope
B) Flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscope
C) Surgical instruments
D) Examining table

Question 38

Sterilization strips should be positioned

A) On the bottom tray of the autoclave
B) On the top tray of the autoclave
C) In the center of the wrapped pack
D) On the outside of the pack

Question 39

Which of the following represents an error in technique during the sanitization procedure?

A) Using a low-sudsing detergent
B) Cleansing the grooves of hinged instruments using a wire brush
C)Using steel wool to remove stains from instruments
D) Checking instruments for proper working condition
E) Lubricating hinged instruments

Question 40

The most common temperature and pressure used for autoclaving is

A) 320 °F at 20 pounds of pressure/square inch
B) 145 °F at 20 pounds of pressure/square inch
C) 212 °F at 15 pounds of pressure/square inch
D) 250 °F at 15 pounds of pressure/square inch

Question 41

Which of the following sterilization methods is often used by medical manufacturers to sterilize disposable items?

A) Cold sterilization
B) Dry heat oven
C) Ethylene oxide gas
D) Autoclave

Question 42

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding cold sterilization with a chemical agent?

A) The chemical must be designated as a sterilant by the EPA.
B) Items must be submerged in the chemical for 6-24 hours.
C) Each time a new item is added to the chemical, the clock must be reset for the entire amount of time.
D) It is the preferred method for sterilizing instruments with sharp cutting edges.

Question 43

Dry heat is preferred for sterilizing

A) Disposable syringes
B) Vaginal specula
C) Flexible sigmoidoscopes
D) Instruments with sharp cutting edges

Question 44

The recommended exposure time and temperature for a dry heat oven is

A) 250 °F for 1 hour
B) 320 °F for 1-2 hours
C) 320 °F for 15-20 minutes
D) 212 °F for 20-30 minutes