IAHCSMM (MCQ) 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum temperature required for high-level disinfection (HLD) when using glutaraldehyde 2%?
- 50°F (10°C)
- 68°F (20°C) (Correct answer)
- 100°F (37.8°C)
- 140°F (60°C)
Correct answer: 68°F (20°C)
Glutaraldehyde 2% achieves high-level disinfection at a minimum temperature of 68°F (20°C) with a contact time of at least 20 minutes.
Question 2: Which term describes the removal of all microbial life including bacterial endospores?
- Sanitization
- Disinfection
- Sterilization (Correct answer)
- Pasteurization
Correct answer: Sterilization
Sterilization is the process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores.
Question 3: A peel pouch sealed incorrectly with the instrument tip touching the seal is a problem because:
- It increases drying time after sterilization
- The instrument can puncture the seal, compromising sterility (Correct answer)
- It prevents the chemical indicator from changing color
- It causes the pouch to expand during pressurization
Correct answer: The instrument can puncture the seal, compromising sterility
Instrument tips that contact the seal can puncture or weaken it during handling, creating a pathway for microorganism contamination.
Question 4: What is the recommended air pressure differential between the clean and decontamination areas in a CS department?
- Clean area should have negative pressure relative to decontamination
- Clean area should have positive pressure relative to decontamination (Correct answer)
- Both areas should be at equal pressure
- Pressure differential is not required for CS areas
Correct answer: Clean area should have positive pressure relative to decontamination
The clean/sterile area should maintain positive pressure relative to the decontamination area to prevent airborne contamination from flowing into the clean zone.
Question 5: Which type of chemical disinfectant is most appropriate for disinfecting environmental surfaces in the CS prep and pack area?
- High-level disinfectant such as peracetic acid
- EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant (Correct answer)
- Isopropyl alcohol 70% only
- Quaternary ammonium compound at any concentration
Correct answer: EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant
EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants are appropriate for environmental surface disinfection in healthcare settings including CS prep areas.
Question 6: What is the significance of the sterilizer's 'wet pack' after a steam cycle?
- It indicates a successful cycle with high steam penetration
- It signals a compromised package that must be reprocessed (Correct answer)
- It is acceptable if the instrument set weighs more than 25 lbs
- Wet packs are only significant for wrapped sets, not rigid containers
Correct answer: It signals a compromised package that must be reprocessed
A wet pack after steam sterilization indicates a cycle failure or overloading issue; the package must be considered non-sterile and reprocessed.
Question 7: According to Spaulding Classification, flexible endoscopes used for bronchoscopy are classified as:
- Non-critical items requiring low-level disinfection
- Semi-critical items requiring at minimum high-level disinfection (Correct answer)
- Critical items requiring sterilization before every use
- Non-critical items if rinsed with sterile water
Correct answer: Semi-critical items requiring at minimum high-level disinfection
Flexible bronchoscopes contact mucous membranes and are classified as semi-critical items, requiring at minimum high-level disinfection between uses.
IAHCSMM (MCQ) 4
What is the minimum temperature required for high-level disinfection (HLD) when using glutaraldehyde 2%?