Sterile technique

Question 1

what is the cornerstone of surgical practice

Answer 1

sterile technique

Question 2

What is the sterile instrument tables and sterile draping over the patient and furniture creates this area

Answer 2

sterile field

Question 3

what is the use of specific actions and activities to prevent contamination and maintain sterility

Answer 3

sterile technique

Question 4

What is an item that is free of living organisms

Answer 4

sterile

Question 5

What is the absence of infectious organisms

Answer 5

asepsis

Question 6

What is the single most effective measure to prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms

Answer 6

hand hygiene

Question 7

What is performed to reduce the skins resident and transient microbes?

Answer 7

surgical hand antisepsis

Question 8

Before a sterile gown and glove are donned, what is performed?

Answer 8

a surgical hand scrub

Question 9

What is followed during surgical hand scrub?

Answer 9

the product manufacturer’s instructions for use

Question 10

When are the 5 times gloves should be changed?

Answer 10

1. 90 to 150 minutes
2. when a visible or suspected perforation occurs
3. After touching a helmet hood or visor
4. after contact with methyl methacrylate
5. After touching microscope optics or fluoroscopy equipment

Question 11

What are the 13 sterile technique principles?

Answer 11

1. prepare the sterile field in the location where it will be used

Question 12

What is used to verify that a sterile package is intact and conditions for sterility have been met?

Answer 12

an item’s packaging is inspected

Question 13

What are key indicators that are used to check if a package is in good condition?

Answer 13

1. Package integrity - no holes
2. expiration date - do not open the package onto the sterile field if the date has expired
3. single-use by date (sterility)
4. chemical indicators of sterilization processes

Question 14

What is used on the outside of the packaging to indicate that items inside the package are sterile?

Answer 14

manufacturer’s statement

Question 15

What indicates a manufacturer date?

Answer 15

little building

Question 16

What indicates an expiration date?

Answer 16

timer

Question 17

What does a rigid container look like?

Answer 17

1. top has holes - perforations

2. bottom may be solid or have holes

Question 18

Why are there holes with filters on the rigid containers?

Answer 18

1. allow sterilant to enter and exit

2. to prevent contaminants from entering the container through the hole

Question 19

How are filters held in place in the rigid container?

Answer 19

retention plate

Question 20

What holds the filter in a rigid container?

Answer 20

retention plate

Question 21

Perform the following steps when opening a rigid container:

Answer 21

• Inspect the container.
• Verify the external indicator color change.
• Remove the external indicator.
• Remove the container lid up, away from the container, and toward yourself.
• The scrub person and RN circulator will perform the internal indicator inspection.

Question 22

What is special about the look of wraps?

Answer 22

blue side (outside layer) and an alternate color on the opposite side

Question 23

How do you open a small wrapped item?

Answer 23

1. inspect the wrap integrity
2. check indicator tape
   3.

Question 24

What are peel packs?

Answer 24

small packages designed to hold a single item or a small number of sterilized instruments.

Question 25

What are peel packs intended for?

Answer 25

when an additional/replacement instrument is needed.

Question 26

What are double peel packs?

Answer 26

smaller peel pack

Question 27

How are peel packs opened?

Answer 27

1. inspect for package integrity and chemical indicators 2. the corners of the peel pack at the chevron end are released 3. each side of the peel pack at the chevron end is held firmly and then gently pulled apart 4. The contents of the peel pack are presented to the scrubbed personnel

Question 28

How are peel packs opened?

Answer 28

1. inspect for package integrity and chemical indicators 2. the corners of the peel pack at the chevron end are released 3. each side of the peel pack at the chevron end is held firmly and then gently pulled apart 4. The contents of the peel pack are presented to the scrubbed personnel

Question 29

When is peel pack considered contaminated?

Answer 29

1. peel pack rips 2. flap falls back into the item 3. or contents slide over the unsterile edges including the seal

Question 30

What are factors that affect event-related sterility?

Answer 30

1. Packaging material quality 2. Storage conditions --> extreme temps, uncontrolled or dirty settings 3. How an item is transported from storage or immediate use steam sterilization to the point of use --> exposed to moisture, without a protective covering or container. 4. The number of times and the way the item is handled 5. Environmental conditions of item storage --> humidity, exposure to airborne contamination

Question 31

What happens if there is debris on one instrument?

Answer 31

the whole set is contaminated

Question 32

What is the process when a contaminated item is discovered on the sterile field?

Answer 32

1. Remove all contaminated items from the sterile field 2. Sterile gloves are changed by all members who touched the contaminated items 3. Add drapes to the sterile field 4. replace instruments if needed 5. Create a new setup

Question 33

When do you want to open the sterile field?

Answer 33

as close as possible to the time of use

Question 34

What are the 3 requirements for covering a sterile field?

Answer 34

1. cover the sterile field if it opened and not used immediately 2. cover and uncover the field in a manner that prevents contamination. 3. portions of a sterile field can be covered when items will not be used immediately.

Question 35

What are the 2 steps for covering a sterile field?

Answer 35

1. the first drape is placed with the cuff at the halfway point 2. the second drape is placed from opposite side and completely covers the cuff of the first drape.

Question 36

What are traffic rules for scrub team members?

Answer 36

1. Face the sterile field 2. Stay within the sterile field; avoid changing levels 3. Keep the hands between the level of the chest and the sterile field 4. Use the face-to-face or back-to-back methods of moving around the sterile field 5. Keep conversation to a minimum

Question 37

What are traffic rules for unscrubued team members?

Answer 37

1. Face the sterile field 2. Maintain distance from the sterile field and scrubbed team members 3. Do not reach over the sterile field 4. Do not walk between sterile fields 5. Keep conversation to a minimum