Safety & Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real CH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety & Infection Control flashcards as text
What is the minimum contact time (dwell time) required for a disinfectant to be effective on a surface?
Answer: The time specified on the EPA-registered product label
Disinfectants must remain wet on a surface for the contact time listed on the product label to achieve the stated efficacy against pathogens.
Which of the following best describes 'standard precautions' as applied to colonic hydrotherapy?
Answer: Treating all blood, body fluids, and mucous membranes from every client as potentially infectious
Standard precautions assume all clients may be infectious, eliminating the need for a known diagnosis before protective measures are applied.
When cleaning colonic hydrotherapy equipment between clients, what is the correct order of steps?
Answer: Clean (remove organic matter), then disinfect
Cleaning to remove organic matter must precede disinfection because organic material inactivates many disinfectants and prevents them from reaching pathogens.
A new therapist asks about re-using a single-use speculum for a second client after high-level disinfection. What is the correct response?
Answer: Single-use devices are never to be reprocessed or reused on any client under any circumstances
FDA regulations strictly prohibit reprocessing or reusing devices labeled 'single-use only' due to risks of infection transmission and device integrity failure.
What is the function of the backflow prevention device on colonic hydrotherapy equipment?
Answer: To prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the potable water supply
A backflow preventer (e.g., vacuum breaker) protects the public water supply from cross-contamination with fecal matter or contaminated equipment water.
Which organization publishes the Spaulding Classification system used to guide disinfection and sterilization levels for medical equipment?
Answer: CDC (originally proposed by Dr. E.H. Spaulding)
The Spaulding Classification (critical, semi-critical, non-critical) was developed by Dr. Earle Spaulding and is endorsed and maintained by the CDC for reprocessing guidance.
If a therapist notices a crack or defect in reusable equipment tubing, the correct action is to:
Answer: Remove the equipment from service immediately and quarantine it for repair or disposal
Damaged tubing can harbor biofilm, prevent adequate disinfection, and pose a risk of failure during use, requiring immediate removal from service.