Examples of "sharps"
Knife Blades
Needles
Skin hooks
Scissors
Scalpels
Razors
Three priority goals of soiled item transportation
1. To prepare contaminated items
2. To transport soiled items
without cross-contamination
3. To assure that all individuals
remain safe
Highest amounts of contaminated items will be produced by:
Surgery
Less amounts of contaminated items will be produced by:
Labor & Delivery
Emergency Services
Endoscopy
Cardiac Cath Lab
Holding items until received by central services
Designated holding area with biohazard signage that is NOT accessible to visitors. Contains specific contaminated linen and trash receptacles
Instrument decontamination begins at
Point-of-use
Reasons for point-of-use preparations 1
Helps to prolong the life of instruments
Reasons for point-of-use preparations 2
Dried on soil and debris is harder to remove than moist soil
When should gross soil be removed from instruments
Immediately
Removing soil from gross instruments include:
Following manufacturers instructions
Keep soiled instruments
moist
Remove disposable components
Separate reusable linen
Empty fluids container
Separate sharps from other
instruments
Notify SPD about repairs needed
What are sharps
Knife blades and needles
What is gross soil
Tissue, body fat, blood, and other body substances
Why should contaminated items be contained before transport?
To minimize the spread of microorganisms, and to reduce the risk of cross-contamination
Prior to transport smaller instruments should be contained in....
Biohazard bags
Prior to transport larger items should be contained in....
Instrument carts with doors or covered in clear plastic
What does a SPD tech wear when transporting contaminated items?
A protective gown or coat over scrubs. Once items have been placed in the carts gloves should be removed and hands washed prior to moving the cart
Who creates the recommended transports for contaminated items to be transported
AAMI and OSHA
The removal of all visible and non visible soil
Cleaning
Removing or reducing contamination by infectious organisms or other harmful substances
Decontamination
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
Relative humidity
A term relating to infectious agents that present a risk or potential risk to human health
Biohazard
Why is the temperature low in decontamination
All the PPE makes the SPD agent hot, also a low temperature helps inhibit the growth of microorganisms
What 3 things are taken into consideration for decontamination lighting
Age of workers
Importance of speed and accuracy
Amount of
light reflection in the work area
What emergency equipment should be available in decontamination
Eye wash station and hand washing station
When should work surfaces be cleaned
At the beginning and end of every shift
When should spills be cleaned up
Spot-cleaned immediately
When should floors be cleaned
Wet mopped and disinfected daily
When should biohazard be removed
At frequent intervals
What is standard precaution
Think every patient is infected with something
Staff Education and training should be...
Effective and ongoing
Effective cleaning agents 1
Are non abrasive
Low foaming
Free rinsing
Bio-gradable
Effective cleaning agents 2
Non toxic
Allow for rapid soil dispersion
Effective on
all types of soil
Have a long shelf life
Cost effective
Can be monitored
A substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid and allows the liquid to penetrate
Wetting agent
A measure of alkalinity or acidity
pH level
Chemicals that hold hard water minerals in solutions,
and prevents soap from reacting with minerals
Chemicals that remove or inactivate hard water minerals
Sequestering agents
An example of a wetting agent
Water
What are the conditions of "pure" water
Must be free of particles, solids, microbes, and fever producing pyrogens
Why is the pH level of water important
It influences the effectiveness of enzymes and detergent cleaners
What is the pH of an acidic detergent
Low pH 0-6
What is the pH of an alkaline detergent
High pH 8-14
What color does acid turn litmus paper
Red
How does an enzyme detergent work
It breaks down or 'digests' large organic molecules to facilitate their removal
Why are enzymes specific in their actions?
A protein will not recognize fat molecules - it only recognizes molecules in their original state
How do protease enzyme perform?
Break down blood, mucous, feces, and albumin
How does lipase work
Breaks down fatty deposits such as bone marrow and adipose tissue
How does amylase work
Catalyzes (changes) starch
Enzymatic usually consist of detergents with a ....
neutral base
What should you consider when choosing an enzymatic solution?
Water temperature
Room temperature
Useful life and
stability of product
Expiration date
Materials used to
make the device to be cleaned
Approved by EPA
A surface-acting agent that lowers the surface tension of a liquid
Surfactant
What is often called "instrumentation milk"
Lubricants
What function does a lubricant perform
Inhibits rust
maintains the integrity of instrumentation
What technology challenges do SPD face
Crevices, joints, or surface pores
Clamps that cannot be opened
to clean
Channels that are not freely accessible
Valves
What temperature should water be to prevent coagulation
Below 110f (43c)
To cause to become viscous or thickened into a coherent mass; to clot
Coagulation
What is the fist sink in a 3 sink arrangement
A wash sink with water and a detergent wash
What is the second sink in a 3 sink arrangement
Plain or softened deionized water
What is the third sink in a 3 sink arrangement
Final rinse with distilled water
Automated equipment used to clean, decontaminate, or disinfect and dry medical equipment
Washer
The process used by ultrasonic cleaners in which low-pressure bubbles in a cleaning solution burst inwards, and dislodge soiled from instruments
Cavitation
What does the breakdown of ultrasonic mean
Ultra = beyond
Sonic = sound
The spray-force action of pressurized water against instrumentation being processed to physically remove bioburden
Impingement
What detergent should be used to clean rigid instrument containers
A neutral pH detergent
Verification and quality control tactics include
Vigorous and meticulous visual instrument inspection throughout the whol cleaning process
Who regulates infectious waste management
EPA
Waste categorization - garbage disposed of as municipal solid waste
General trash
Waste categorization - defined as waste capable of transmitting infectious diseases - must be red bagged
Regulated medical waste
Waste categorization - - may cause mortality or serious illness, must be red bagged
Hazardous waste
Waste categorization - exhibits radiologic characteristics
Low-level radioactive waste
This is a biological waste and discarded material contaminated with blood, excretions and secretions from humans who are in isolation
Selected isolation waste
Examples include human tissue, organs, and body parts removed during surgery, autopsy, or other medical procedures
Pathological waste
This category includes blood products, and bodily fluids
Human blood category