SPD, Decontamination Exam Questions
and Answers
Cleaning - Answer -Removal of contamination
Decontamination - Answer -The use of physical & chemical means to remove
pathogens on an item
Decontamination process 2 steps - Answer -1. Manual and or automated, mechanical
cleaning
2. Application of a thermal/chemical disinfection process
Bioburden - Answer -Microorganisms on a contaminated item
Decontamination area temp & humidity - Answer -60-65F & 30-60% humidity
Temp & humidity monitored & documented - Answer -Daily
Decontamination area ventilation system should maintain - Answer -Negative air
pressure
Decontamination area should have - Answer -10 air exchanges per hr
impervious - Answer -Fluid proof
jewelry - Answer -Not worn; can't be easily cleaned & can catch on equipment
Fingernails - Answer -No more than 1/4 inch long
Acrylic nails - Answer -Prohibited; may support growth of microorganisms & puncture
gloves
Sharps - Answer -Any medical devices that could cut
Sharps should be contained in - Answer -An impervious, leak proof container
Impervious - Answer -Puncture proof
Sharps container should be changed - Answer -At 2/3 full
,Needle Logs - Answer -Used to document # of sharps injuries
-how injury occurred
-corrective actions takes to improve procedures
-prevent future injuries
Disposable items should be - Answer -Removed and discarded in appropriate
containers at the point of use
Reusable items should be placed in a - Answer -Container/covered cart
Bins w/ lids
Sterilization containers w/solid bottoms
Disposable impermeable bags
All transport containers must be cleaned & disinfected - Answer -Between uses; doesn't
require sterilization
Containers & carts should be labeled with - Answer -Biohazard label
Transportation carts/containers must be - Answer -Rigid, covered & have a solid bottom
Gross soil - Answer -Bones, body organs, etc
NaCl - Answer -Saline
To prevent souls drying on surfaces - Answer -Place moistened towel (not saline) inside
package to maintain humid conditions
Items should be placed in appropriate container & coated w/enzymatic foam/gel
Enzymatic foam/gel - Answer -Adheres to surface of contaminated item; won't
splash/spill during transport
Objective of decontamination - Answer -To make an item safe for reuse; to prevent
transmission of disease
Before any medical device is cleaned - Answer -Manufacturers written instructions must
be obtained
Manufacturers instructions should include - Answer -Cleaning & disinfecting agents
(type of solution
Cleaning implements (tools needed)
Methods to be used ( how to clean devices)
,1st & most important step in decontamination - Answer -Cleaning, followed by thorough
rinsing
Pyrogens - Answer -Fever producing substances; dead microorganisms left behind on
medical devices after sterilization
New instruments, individual instruments, & sets theatre opened but unused must be -
Answer -Cleaned
Won't compensate for poor cleaning - Answer -Disinfection &/ sterilization
Basic steps in cleaning process - Answer -Sorting
Disposing if single use items
Prerinsing/presoaking reusable items
Washing
Rinsing w/treated water
Drying
treated water - Answer -Distilled, deionized, reverse osmosis
To facilitate cleaning process, items should be - Answer -Sorted according to type of
item being processed and method of cleaning to be used
Examples of sorting categories - Answer -Basins and utensils, sharps, non-immersible
items
Can use forceps or sponge sticks to - Answer -Pick up instruments if not clearly visible
If knife blades are present they must be - Answer -Removed and disposed of
inappropriate container before instrument is processed
Single use items should be - Answer -Disposed of at the point of use or placed into a
container for third-party re-processor
It's often necessary to presoak items especially surgical instruments to - Answer -Soften
and facilitate the removal of soil's especially proteins that have been allowed to drive on
device services
Enzyme-based detergents - Answer -Special presoaking solutions are recommended
for this process
If instruments are to be pre-treated at the point of use - Answer -Enzyme gels or foams
(not solutions) should be used
Any item with multiple parts must be - Answer -Disassembled according to the
manufacturers instructions before it's cleaned
, Items with small components should be - Answer -Containerized; small tea strainer
Type containers that allow the parts to remain together and have contact with the
cleaning agent during mechanical washing
When disassembling complex instrumentation such as devices with lumens they must
be - Answer -Washed by hand to ensure that the lumen is clean and free of debris
Most important step in the cleaning process - Answer -Rinsing
Items that have been pre-soaked or treated must be rinsed thoroughly before further
cleaning because - Answer -The presoaking/treatment agent (enzyme or detergent)
must not be compatible with the detergents used for cleaning
Loom and items should be thoroughly rinsed with - Answer -Treated water to prevent
the formation of pyrogens and biofilm
Instrument should never be stored - Answer -Wet
Instrument should be sterilized as soon - Answer -As possible after cleaning
Soaking items for prolonged periods - Answer -Should be avoided because of the
potential for the formation of bio films
Items most affected by biofilms - Answer -Lumens, irregular or serrated services,
difficult to reach surfaces
Prevention of biofilms - Answer -Use of treated water and drying immediately, never
store items while wet, instrument should be sterilized ASAP after cleaning
The quality of water can affect not only how well the detergent will work but also -
Answer -How much is needed and how well it will rinse off at the end of the cleaning
process
Water testing should be performed to determine - Answer -Hardness due to inorganic
substances, pH level, presence of minerals, organic and in organic substances
PH - Answer -The relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution
How is pH measured - Answer -On a scale of 0 to 14
The pH of the water used in processing can actually alter the pH of - Answer -The
detergents or disinfectants used with it
11.1-14 ph - Answer -Heavy alkaline
and Answers
Cleaning - Answer -Removal of contamination
Decontamination - Answer -The use of physical & chemical means to remove
pathogens on an item
Decontamination process 2 steps - Answer -1. Manual and or automated, mechanical
cleaning
2. Application of a thermal/chemical disinfection process
Bioburden - Answer -Microorganisms on a contaminated item
Decontamination area temp & humidity - Answer -60-65F & 30-60% humidity
Temp & humidity monitored & documented - Answer -Daily
Decontamination area ventilation system should maintain - Answer -Negative air
pressure
Decontamination area should have - Answer -10 air exchanges per hr
impervious - Answer -Fluid proof
jewelry - Answer -Not worn; can't be easily cleaned & can catch on equipment
Fingernails - Answer -No more than 1/4 inch long
Acrylic nails - Answer -Prohibited; may support growth of microorganisms & puncture
gloves
Sharps - Answer -Any medical devices that could cut
Sharps should be contained in - Answer -An impervious, leak proof container
Impervious - Answer -Puncture proof
Sharps container should be changed - Answer -At 2/3 full
,Needle Logs - Answer -Used to document # of sharps injuries
-how injury occurred
-corrective actions takes to improve procedures
-prevent future injuries
Disposable items should be - Answer -Removed and discarded in appropriate
containers at the point of use
Reusable items should be placed in a - Answer -Container/covered cart
Bins w/ lids
Sterilization containers w/solid bottoms
Disposable impermeable bags
All transport containers must be cleaned & disinfected - Answer -Between uses; doesn't
require sterilization
Containers & carts should be labeled with - Answer -Biohazard label
Transportation carts/containers must be - Answer -Rigid, covered & have a solid bottom
Gross soil - Answer -Bones, body organs, etc
NaCl - Answer -Saline
To prevent souls drying on surfaces - Answer -Place moistened towel (not saline) inside
package to maintain humid conditions
Items should be placed in appropriate container & coated w/enzymatic foam/gel
Enzymatic foam/gel - Answer -Adheres to surface of contaminated item; won't
splash/spill during transport
Objective of decontamination - Answer -To make an item safe for reuse; to prevent
transmission of disease
Before any medical device is cleaned - Answer -Manufacturers written instructions must
be obtained
Manufacturers instructions should include - Answer -Cleaning & disinfecting agents
(type of solution
Cleaning implements (tools needed)
Methods to be used ( how to clean devices)
,1st & most important step in decontamination - Answer -Cleaning, followed by thorough
rinsing
Pyrogens - Answer -Fever producing substances; dead microorganisms left behind on
medical devices after sterilization
New instruments, individual instruments, & sets theatre opened but unused must be -
Answer -Cleaned
Won't compensate for poor cleaning - Answer -Disinfection &/ sterilization
Basic steps in cleaning process - Answer -Sorting
Disposing if single use items
Prerinsing/presoaking reusable items
Washing
Rinsing w/treated water
Drying
treated water - Answer -Distilled, deionized, reverse osmosis
To facilitate cleaning process, items should be - Answer -Sorted according to type of
item being processed and method of cleaning to be used
Examples of sorting categories - Answer -Basins and utensils, sharps, non-immersible
items
Can use forceps or sponge sticks to - Answer -Pick up instruments if not clearly visible
If knife blades are present they must be - Answer -Removed and disposed of
inappropriate container before instrument is processed
Single use items should be - Answer -Disposed of at the point of use or placed into a
container for third-party re-processor
It's often necessary to presoak items especially surgical instruments to - Answer -Soften
and facilitate the removal of soil's especially proteins that have been allowed to drive on
device services
Enzyme-based detergents - Answer -Special presoaking solutions are recommended
for this process
If instruments are to be pre-treated at the point of use - Answer -Enzyme gels or foams
(not solutions) should be used
Any item with multiple parts must be - Answer -Disassembled according to the
manufacturers instructions before it's cleaned
, Items with small components should be - Answer -Containerized; small tea strainer
Type containers that allow the parts to remain together and have contact with the
cleaning agent during mechanical washing
When disassembling complex instrumentation such as devices with lumens they must
be - Answer -Washed by hand to ensure that the lumen is clean and free of debris
Most important step in the cleaning process - Answer -Rinsing
Items that have been pre-soaked or treated must be rinsed thoroughly before further
cleaning because - Answer -The presoaking/treatment agent (enzyme or detergent)
must not be compatible with the detergents used for cleaning
Loom and items should be thoroughly rinsed with - Answer -Treated water to prevent
the formation of pyrogens and biofilm
Instrument should never be stored - Answer -Wet
Instrument should be sterilized as soon - Answer -As possible after cleaning
Soaking items for prolonged periods - Answer -Should be avoided because of the
potential for the formation of bio films
Items most affected by biofilms - Answer -Lumens, irregular or serrated services,
difficult to reach surfaces
Prevention of biofilms - Answer -Use of treated water and drying immediately, never
store items while wet, instrument should be sterilized ASAP after cleaning
The quality of water can affect not only how well the detergent will work but also -
Answer -How much is needed and how well it will rinse off at the end of the cleaning
process
Water testing should be performed to determine - Answer -Hardness due to inorganic
substances, pH level, presence of minerals, organic and in organic substances
PH - Answer -The relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution
How is pH measured - Answer -On a scale of 0 to 14
The pH of the water used in processing can actually alter the pH of - Answer -The
detergents or disinfectants used with it
11.1-14 ph - Answer -Heavy alkaline
