Decontamination Practices Lecture 3 – Sterile Processing and Infection Control – 2026 – Study
and Practice Guide
In the decontamination process the point of use is intended to ? - correct answer ✔✔ reduce
contamination of the environment, prevent transmission of organisms, reduce bioburden on the
device, and help prolong life of device.
______________________ break down the devices' protective finish and accelerate
decomposition and damage - correct answer ✔✔ Blood, saline, and protein
Dried protein can harbour what? - correct answer ✔✔ organisms that will grow and multiply
Why do devices need to be kept moist, especially lumens and crevices? - correct answer ✔✔ •
Due to the shape being a tubular structure - it can harbour microorganisms that will grow and
multiply
• Lumens must be kept moist so that blood does not dry up in the tubular structure
What is Spaulding Classification? - correct answer ✔✔ a category of medical devices and the
degree of sterilization or disinfection that is needed. The three categories are critical medical
devices, semi-critical medical devices and noncritical medical devices, as discussed above, that
need three levels of high, intermediate, and low disinfection or sterilization, respectively.
What is a non-critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ touches intact skin. Requires cleaning followed
by intermediate or low-level disinfection based on contamination level.
What is a semi-critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ touches mucous membranes. Requires
cleaning followed by high-level disinfection or sterilization
What is a critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ enters a sterile tissue, vascular system, or body
space. Requirescleaning. Sterilization is essential.
and Practice Guide
In the decontamination process the point of use is intended to ? - correct answer ✔✔ reduce
contamination of the environment, prevent transmission of organisms, reduce bioburden on the
device, and help prolong life of device.
______________________ break down the devices' protective finish and accelerate
decomposition and damage - correct answer ✔✔ Blood, saline, and protein
Dried protein can harbour what? - correct answer ✔✔ organisms that will grow and multiply
Why do devices need to be kept moist, especially lumens and crevices? - correct answer ✔✔ •
Due to the shape being a tubular structure - it can harbour microorganisms that will grow and
multiply
• Lumens must be kept moist so that blood does not dry up in the tubular structure
What is Spaulding Classification? - correct answer ✔✔ a category of medical devices and the
degree of sterilization or disinfection that is needed. The three categories are critical medical
devices, semi-critical medical devices and noncritical medical devices, as discussed above, that
need three levels of high, intermediate, and low disinfection or sterilization, respectively.
What is a non-critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ touches intact skin. Requires cleaning followed
by intermediate or low-level disinfection based on contamination level.
What is a semi-critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ touches mucous membranes. Requires
cleaning followed by high-level disinfection or sterilization
What is a critical item? - correct answer ✔✔ enters a sterile tissue, vascular system, or body
space. Requirescleaning. Sterilization is essential.
