MDRAO Infection Prevention and Control 2

Question 1

What is the Spaulding Classification system, and how does it determine the level of disinfection or sterilization required for medical devices?

Accepted Answer

A three-tier classification (critical, semi-critical, non-critical) that categorizes medical devices by their risk of infection transmission based on intended use

Answer

A system that classifies microorganisms by their resistance to disinfectants

Answer

A ranking system for cleaning chemical effectiveness

Answer

A grading scale for assessing sterile processing department performance

Question 2

What is the distinction between sterilization and high-level disinfection (HLD)?

Accepted Answer

Sterilization kills ALL microorganisms including bacterial spores; HLD kills most microorganisms but may not eliminate all bacterial spores

Answer

Sterilization and HLD achieve the same result — both completely eliminate all microorganisms

Answer

HLD is more effective than sterilization for heat-sensitive devices

Answer

Sterilization is used only for non-critical devices while HLD is for critical devices

Question 3

What does 'standard precautions' mean in the context of the CSSD decontamination area?

Accepted Answer

A minimum set of infection prevention practices (including hand hygiene, PPE, safe sharps handling) applied to ALL patients regardless of infection status

Answer

Precautions taken only when staff know a patient has a known infectious disease

Answer

Special isolation procedures reserved for immunocompromised patients only

Answer

Sterilization procedures applied as a standard to all instrument sets

Question 4

What is the role of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the sterile processing department?

Accepted Answer

Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of HAIs in all healthcare settings including CSSD

Answer

Hand hygiene is important only in clinical patient care areas — it is less critical in the CSSD

Answer

Hand hygiene is only required when handling soiled instruments, not after removing gloves

Answer

Gloves completely eliminate the need for hand hygiene in CSSD

Question 5

Which of the following transmission-based precautions requires the use of an N95 respirator by healthcare workers?

Accepted Answer

Airborne precautions for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

Answer

Contact precautions for MRSA

Answer

Droplet precautions for influenza

Answer

Enteric precautions for C. difficile

Question 6

What is a prion, and why do prion-contaminated instruments present a unique challenge for standard reprocessing protocols?

Accepted Answer

Prions are misfolded proteins that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., CJD) and are extraordinarily resistant to all standard sterilization and disinfection methods

Answer

Prions are a type of fungal spore that requires extended steam sterilization cycles

Answer

Prions are antibiotic-resistant bacteria requiring specialized HLD protocols

Answer

Prions are heat-stable viruses that require EO gas sterilization