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D311 Section 3
Section 3 Lesson 1 Quiz:
1. Which factor determines the level of bioburden (microbial level) allowed and,
therefore, the microbial controls required for items used in a general healthcare
setting?
a. The soiling of the item during use
- Incorrect, the soiling of an item during use does play a role in determining
how to clean and disinfect the item, however it does not determine the level
of microbial control required for that item.
b. The preference of the patient
- Incorrect, this is not practical for the control of items individually for each
patient.
c. The application or use of the item
- Correct, because the items used on the skin have less control than items
used orally. There is more control that is required if the item will be injected
or implanted into the person. For example, if spores are present then we
need to have more extreme measures of removal are required if the item is
to be sterile.
d. The sterilization of all equipment
- Incorrect, the process of sterilization is very costly and needs to be done
correctly to ensure efficacy. If done incorrectly it can be damaging to items
processed, it is not practical to sterilize all items when they are not required.
2. Which laboratory biosafety level would be used for managing work with an
organism of moderate risk that is native to the local area?
a. BSL-3
- Incorrect, the BSL-3 agents like in Bacillus anthracis and HIV could cause
deadly infections if inhaled. The labs containing these agents have restricted
access, and workers are under medical surveillance. The workers must
always wear respirators and work in a biosafety cabinet.
b. BSL-1
- Incorrect, the BSL-1 agents do not cause infections in healthy adults. The
workers can work with the agent on a laboratory bench while wearing a lab
coat or on a table.
c. BSL-4
- Incorrect, the BSL-4 agents are exotic and easily transferred by inhalation.
They cause infections such as Ebola virus or Marburg virus which have no
treatment or vaccinations. The laboratory workers must change into full-body
protective suits with designated air supply with positive pressure when
entering the laboratory and shower when exiting. The lab must have its own
air supply with exhaust system and decontamination system.
d. BSL-2
- Correct, the BSL-2 agents cause moderate risk to workers and the
community, they are typically found in the local geographical area. These
labs have restricted access, require PPE use, and biosafety cabinets. The labs
have self-closing doors and an autoclave to sterilize materials before
disposal.
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D311 Section 3
3. Which microbial control type can be used to completely eliminate all vegetative
bacteria, endospores, fungi, and viruses from an inanimate item?
a. Disinfection
- Incorrect, disinfection reduces but does not eliminate the entire microbial
load on an inanimate object.
b. Sterilization
- Correct, this is the only microbial control type that can be used for
elimination of organisms once the process has been validated. Sterilization is
performed on inanimate objects; this process would be very damaging to live
tissues.
c. Cleaning
- Incorrect, cleaning is a generic term for removal of soil from an object with
detergent; it can remove some of the microorganisms from the object, but it
does not eliminate all of them.
d. Antisepsis
- Incorrect, this reduces but does not eliminate the entire microbial load on a
living tissue.
4. Which term describes the area specially created and maintained for performing
medical procedures that carry risk from contamination?
a. Cleaning protocol
- Incorrect, a cleaning protocol helps the area but does not create or
maintain this area. It is only one component that can support the area, but it
does not describe the area specifically prepared for the medical procedure.
b. Operating room
- Incorrect, the operating room is designed to control airborne particulates
but while procedures are done in this room, it only describes the
environmental component that are factors in controlling the area.
c. Critical item
- Incorrect, a critical item is one that contact normally sterile areas of the
body. They must be sterile themselves before each use, but this term does
not describe the process of creating or maintaining the area.
d. Sterile field
- Correct, because during a medical procedure there is a risk of
contamination so specific protocols are followed to maintain the sterility of
the environment. The use of sterilized materials, packaging, draping, the
washing and applying of sterilant, as well as the team involved in practicing
sterile techniques helps create and maintain the sterile field, a specific area
directly around where the procedure occurs.
Section 3 Lesson 2 Quiz:
1. Which physical method of control works by removing microorganisms from a
liquid?
a. Ionizing radiation
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D311 Section 3
- Incorrect, because ionizing radiation is used to sterilize supplies that may
be used in a lab; it kills organisms but does not remove them.
b. Moist heat
- Incorrect, the moist heat [autoclaving] is commonly used for instruments
and media. It kills the organisms present but does not remove them.
c. Pasteurization
- Incorrect, boiling and pasteurization are used in the food industry for
cooking and preserving various foods. Pasteurization is the application of
heat and does not remove the cell from the product.
d. Filtration
- Correct, filtration is used to remove the microorganisms from air and
liquids.
2. Which physical method of control is used to denature proteins and alter
membranes of microorganisms to prevent spoilage of milk, apple juice, honey, and
other ingestible items to reduce microorganism levels?
a. Refrigeration
- Incorrect, because refrigeration slows the metabolism of the organisms
present in food but does not denature the proteins or alter the membranes.
Refrigeration is not used to kill organisms.
b. Autoclave
- Incorrect, the autoclave cycle denatures proteins and alter membranes but
the cycle itself is too hot and lasts too long for food and would alter the taste
and edibility.
c. Ionizing radiation
- Incorrect, ionizing radiation can sterilize food items preventing spoilage.
However, its mechanism of action is to alter DNA within microorganisms
rather than denaturing proteins or disrupting membranes.
d. Pasteurization
- Correct, because pasteurization at a lower temperature for a shorter
amount of time kills spoilage organisms by denaturing proteins and alters
membranes while leaving the food edible.
3. Which technique will ensure that Clostridium botulinum and botulinum toxin
cannot cause foodborne illness?
a. Boiling foods for at least 10 minutes prior to eating
- Correct, because the toxin is heat labile, by boiling the food for at least ten
minutes is an effective way to destroy the toxin.
b. Boiling foods for at least 10 minutes prior to canning
- Incorrect, boiling is not effective at killing Clostridium botulinum spores.
Once it has been canned, the organism can germinate and create the toxin.
c. Adding salt to the prepared food
- Incorrect, salting prepared food that is contaminated with botulinum toxin
will not destroy the toxin. But packaging the food in salt to cure it will
prevent the production of the toxin.
d. Freezing the prepared food
