Disinfection: Chapter 9

Disinfection

Chapter 9

What level of microbial destruction is appropriate?

• Sterilization?

• High level disinfection?

• intermediate or low level disinfection?

For the answer we look to the Spaulding Classification System. Is the device

• Critical?

• Semi-critical

• Non critical?

If the device is going to contact normally sterile areas, as in any surgery, it must be completely devoid of life.

(not all procedures are called surgeries)

Devices used in surgery must be sterile

• these are critical devices

• sterilization destroys all microorganisms.

Not all devices used on patients will contact normally sterile areas.

example: colonoscope

Colonoscopes and many other devices that may come in contact with mucous membranes are considered to be semi critical

• High level disinfection is usually appropriate for these

• HLD destroys all vegetative organisms and some, but not all, spores.

Multiple Choice

HLD destroys all microbes

• True

• False

Non critical devices

come in contact with non broken skin.

These require intermediate to low level disinfection.

Intermediate to low level disinfectants include

• quats

• alcohols

• phenolics

• chlorine

• iodophores

None of the previously listed will make an item safe to use inside a patient!

low and intermediate disinfectants are for

• floors

• counter tops

• light switches

• walls

• you get the picture

Intermediate and low level disinfectants CANNOT KILL SPORES

Multiple Choice

Quats are sporicidal

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Chlorine and phenolics are appropriate for colonoscopes but not for surgical instruments

• True

• False

Though alcohol is capable of disinfection it is not often used as a disinfectant.

Alcohol is a useful antiseptic

Antiseptics are for skin, disinfectants are for non living surfaces.

Some IFU's will call for the use of alcohol as a disinfectant.

Why is alcohol used only rarely as a disinfectant?

One big reason is wet contact time, alcohol evaporates very quickly.

Use your book to answer the next 7 questions

Multiple Choice

Wet contact time is the minimum length of time a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface to provide disinfection.What is the wet contact time for alcohol. The answer is in chapter 9

• 15 minutes

• 2 minutes

• 5 minutes

• 10 minutes

Multiple Choice

Spauldings Classification System classifies laryngoscopes as

• semi-critical

• critical

• non-critical

• not applicable

Multiple Choice

Commonly used in skin preps

• iodophores

• chlorine

• quats

• peracetic acid

Multiple Choice

Halogens include

• chlorine and iodophores

• iodophores and quaternary ammonium compounds

• alcohols and chlorine

• glutaraldehyde and OPA

Multiple Choice

Chlorine is recommended for use on critical surgical instruments

• false

• true

Multiple Choice

In the Spaulding Classification System surgical instruments coming in contact with blood are

• Critical

• semi-critical

• high-level disinfected

• sorted into two categories

Multiple Choice

A chemical that kills most pathogenic organisms but does not kill spores

• disinfectant

• sterilant

• disinfection

• low-level sterilant

High level disinfection and disinfectants

Multiple Choice

High level disinfection (HLD) is appropriate for which category on the Spaulding System?

• critical

• semi critical

• non critical

• volley balls

High level disinfectants include

• Glutaraldehyde

• Ortho-Phthaldehyde (OPA)

• Hydrogen Peroxide

• Peracetic Acid

Some HLD's are capable of sterilization

• Glutaraldehyde if contact time is extended per IFU

• Hydrogen Peroxide when used in certain sterilizers

• Peracetic Acid when used in an AER

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