SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY CHAPTER 7
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Medical asepsis.
Answer: removal or destruction of microorganisms or contaminated
materials
◍ Bioburden.
Answer: Actual or suspected relative number of microorganisms found in an
area or on an item
◍ Surgical asepsis.
Answer: Procreation against would infection pre-, inter-, and post-
operatively through aseptic technique
◍ aseptic technique.
Answer: Containment of microbial contamination on animate surfaces via
mechanical and/or chemical means
◍ Sanitization.
Answer: A means of reducing microbes
◍ Antisepsis.
Answer: Infection prevention through the inhibition of microbial growth
◍ sterile technique.
Answer: Prevention of microbial contamination on inanimate surfaces via
mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear means.
◍ Disinfection.
, Answer: The process of destroying all microorganisms, except spore bearing
ones
◍ Sterilization.
Answer: The process of destroying all microorganisms including viruses,
fungi, and fungal spores as all forms of bacteria and their spores by using
sterilants or sporicidal agents
◍ Level 1 of contamination prevention.
Answer: High level asepsis for critical items; required for any items
introduced to internal body areas or areas with high risk of infection if
contaminated with microorganisms, including bacterial spores
◍ Level 2 of contamination prevention.
Answer: Intermediate asepsis for semi-critical items; used for those items
that contact mucous membranes or broken skin
◍ Level 3 of contamination prevention.
Answer: Low level or non crucial items; used for those items that contact
intact skin only
◍ What are the surgical supply preparation phases?.
Answer: Decontamination or cleaning, preparation/assembly/ and
packaging, terminal, and storage
◍ Decontamination or cleaning phase.
Answer: Level 3 process for removing initial gross contaminants such as
blood and debris from surgical instruments
◍ Preparation, assembly, and packaging phase.
Answer: Level 3 process used to assemble instruments and supplies into a
penetrable packaging prior to terminal sterilization or disinfection
◍ Rigid containers.
Answer: Generally metal or plastic hard cases that surround an internal,
removable wire mesh basket
◍ Wrapped instrument trays.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Medical asepsis.
Answer: removal or destruction of microorganisms or contaminated
materials
◍ Bioburden.
Answer: Actual or suspected relative number of microorganisms found in an
area or on an item
◍ Surgical asepsis.
Answer: Procreation against would infection pre-, inter-, and post-
operatively through aseptic technique
◍ aseptic technique.
Answer: Containment of microbial contamination on animate surfaces via
mechanical and/or chemical means
◍ Sanitization.
Answer: A means of reducing microbes
◍ Antisepsis.
Answer: Infection prevention through the inhibition of microbial growth
◍ sterile technique.
Answer: Prevention of microbial contamination on inanimate surfaces via
mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear means.
◍ Disinfection.
, Answer: The process of destroying all microorganisms, except spore bearing
ones
◍ Sterilization.
Answer: The process of destroying all microorganisms including viruses,
fungi, and fungal spores as all forms of bacteria and their spores by using
sterilants or sporicidal agents
◍ Level 1 of contamination prevention.
Answer: High level asepsis for critical items; required for any items
introduced to internal body areas or areas with high risk of infection if
contaminated with microorganisms, including bacterial spores
◍ Level 2 of contamination prevention.
Answer: Intermediate asepsis for semi-critical items; used for those items
that contact mucous membranes or broken skin
◍ Level 3 of contamination prevention.
Answer: Low level or non crucial items; used for those items that contact
intact skin only
◍ What are the surgical supply preparation phases?.
Answer: Decontamination or cleaning, preparation/assembly/ and
packaging, terminal, and storage
◍ Decontamination or cleaning phase.
Answer: Level 3 process for removing initial gross contaminants such as
blood and debris from surgical instruments
◍ Preparation, assembly, and packaging phase.
Answer: Level 3 process used to assemble instruments and supplies into a
penetrable packaging prior to terminal sterilization or disinfection
◍ Rigid containers.
Answer: Generally metal or plastic hard cases that surround an internal,
removable wire mesh basket
◍ Wrapped instrument trays.