Module 6: Decontamination – Medical Device Reprocessing – 2026 – Study and
Practice Guide
Cleaning - correct answer ✔✔ Defined by the AAMI, as the "removal of contamination" from an
item to the extent necessary for further processing or for the intended use.
Decontamination - correct answer ✔✔ Defined by OSHA, as "the use of physical and chemical
means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item to the
point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or
item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal."
Decontamination process involves two steps: - correct answer ✔✔ The first and most important
step is manual and/or automated, mechanical cleaning.
Second step is the application of a thermal or chemical disinfection process.
The disinfection process is used when.. - correct answer ✔✔ cleaning alone may not be enough
to make the item safe for reuse or further handling without transmitting disease.
The specific types of items processed in the decontamination area.. - correct answer ✔✔ vary
from institution to institution, but the fundamental principles of the process remain the same
Items processed in the decontamination area could include: - correct answer ✔✔ Surgical
instrumentation
Patient care equipment
Medical devices
All items that are processed in Decontamination may contain: - correct answer ✔✔ blood
body tissue
,bone
bodily fluids
Items processed may have unknown - correct answer ✔✔ pathogenic and nonpathogenic
organisms.
Staff works in a wet environment and constantly handling: - correct answer ✔✔ contaminated
sharps
potentially hazardous chemicals such as detergents and disinfectants
The decontamination area should be set up not only to provide for efficient and effective
cleaning, - correct answer ✔✔ but also to minimize and contain potential environmental
contamination
The microorganisms on a contaminated item are called: - correct answer ✔✔ "bioburden"
Whenever possible, the process of decontaminating medical devices should be.. - correct
answer ✔✔ centralized in one location to accomplish consistent, effective, and efficient
processing and containment of bioburden
The decontamination area should: - correct answer ✔✔ Provide sufficient space to
accommodate the type and quality of supplies, equipment, and instrumentation to be
processed
Contain the equipment needed for manual and automated cleaning and disinfection.
Allow traffic control and efficient work flow
,Provide space for storage of PPE
Provide space for staff to don and remove PPE
Provide hand-hygiene facilities that are separate from the sinks used for cleaning purposes and
that include conveniently located alcohol-based waterless hand-hygiene solution dispensers
Allow unobstructed access to eyewash facilities
Accommodate the disposal of hazardous substances
Accommodate the collection of sharps
Provide adequate storage space for supplies
Allow temperature and humidity control so that the temperature can be maintained in the
range of 60F to 65F and the humidity can be maintained in the range of 30% to 60%
Maintain negative air pressure to help contain contaminants inside the decontamination area.
Temperature and humidity should be monitored and documented daily. If the temperature or
humidity levels are - correct answer ✔✔ above or below the recommended levels, the
discrepancy should be reported to the CS/SPD manager. Do not proceed working until ideal
conditions are met.
Because of the potentially high levels of contaminants in the decontamination area, - correct
answer ✔✔ the ventilation system should be designed to maintain negative air pressure. Air
within the decontamination area must be exhausted directly outside the facility, not
recirculated.
, There should be at least 10 air exchanges per hour.
Ambulatory surgery facilities are not always set up with - correct answer ✔✔ separate
decontamination and preparation/sterilization areas. In this situation, cross contamination of
already processed devices can occur. AAMI recommends that when physical barriers are not
present, "procedural barriers" should be used.
Decontamination activities should not take place while clean activities are being performed. In
addition, all clean supplies must be kept in a closed cabinet or covered tote bins to prevent
contamination.
PPE and other employee safety measures - correct answer ✔✔ OSHA's regulation on
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens requires employers to identify tasks that might
put employers at risk for exposure to blood or other bodily fluids
The regulation includes requirements for appropriate PPE. According to OSHA, PPEs must.. -
correct answer ✔✔ "not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through
or reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth or
other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which
the protective equipment will be used"
The use of PPE is not optional. Basically, PPEs are required to be "impervious" (fluid-proof)
Employees should be trained in the appropriate protective attire to be worn for the tasks they
perform, and in the potential health and disciplinary consequences if they fail to do so. - correct
answer ✔✔ Training should be documented and routinely verified as part of departmental
competencies.
Practice Guide
Cleaning - correct answer ✔✔ Defined by the AAMI, as the "removal of contamination" from an
item to the extent necessary for further processing or for the intended use.
Decontamination - correct answer ✔✔ Defined by OSHA, as "the use of physical and chemical
means to remove, inactivate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item to the
point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or
item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal."
Decontamination process involves two steps: - correct answer ✔✔ The first and most important
step is manual and/or automated, mechanical cleaning.
Second step is the application of a thermal or chemical disinfection process.
The disinfection process is used when.. - correct answer ✔✔ cleaning alone may not be enough
to make the item safe for reuse or further handling without transmitting disease.
The specific types of items processed in the decontamination area.. - correct answer ✔✔ vary
from institution to institution, but the fundamental principles of the process remain the same
Items processed in the decontamination area could include: - correct answer ✔✔ Surgical
instrumentation
Patient care equipment
Medical devices
All items that are processed in Decontamination may contain: - correct answer ✔✔ blood
body tissue
,bone
bodily fluids
Items processed may have unknown - correct answer ✔✔ pathogenic and nonpathogenic
organisms.
Staff works in a wet environment and constantly handling: - correct answer ✔✔ contaminated
sharps
potentially hazardous chemicals such as detergents and disinfectants
The decontamination area should be set up not only to provide for efficient and effective
cleaning, - correct answer ✔✔ but also to minimize and contain potential environmental
contamination
The microorganisms on a contaminated item are called: - correct answer ✔✔ "bioburden"
Whenever possible, the process of decontaminating medical devices should be.. - correct
answer ✔✔ centralized in one location to accomplish consistent, effective, and efficient
processing and containment of bioburden
The decontamination area should: - correct answer ✔✔ Provide sufficient space to
accommodate the type and quality of supplies, equipment, and instrumentation to be
processed
Contain the equipment needed for manual and automated cleaning and disinfection.
Allow traffic control and efficient work flow
,Provide space for storage of PPE
Provide space for staff to don and remove PPE
Provide hand-hygiene facilities that are separate from the sinks used for cleaning purposes and
that include conveniently located alcohol-based waterless hand-hygiene solution dispensers
Allow unobstructed access to eyewash facilities
Accommodate the disposal of hazardous substances
Accommodate the collection of sharps
Provide adequate storage space for supplies
Allow temperature and humidity control so that the temperature can be maintained in the
range of 60F to 65F and the humidity can be maintained in the range of 30% to 60%
Maintain negative air pressure to help contain contaminants inside the decontamination area.
Temperature and humidity should be monitored and documented daily. If the temperature or
humidity levels are - correct answer ✔✔ above or below the recommended levels, the
discrepancy should be reported to the CS/SPD manager. Do not proceed working until ideal
conditions are met.
Because of the potentially high levels of contaminants in the decontamination area, - correct
answer ✔✔ the ventilation system should be designed to maintain negative air pressure. Air
within the decontamination area must be exhausted directly outside the facility, not
recirculated.
, There should be at least 10 air exchanges per hour.
Ambulatory surgery facilities are not always set up with - correct answer ✔✔ separate
decontamination and preparation/sterilization areas. In this situation, cross contamination of
already processed devices can occur. AAMI recommends that when physical barriers are not
present, "procedural barriers" should be used.
Decontamination activities should not take place while clean activities are being performed. In
addition, all clean supplies must be kept in a closed cabinet or covered tote bins to prevent
contamination.
PPE and other employee safety measures - correct answer ✔✔ OSHA's regulation on
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens requires employers to identify tasks that might
put employers at risk for exposure to blood or other bodily fluids
The regulation includes requirements for appropriate PPE. According to OSHA, PPEs must.. -
correct answer ✔✔ "not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through
or reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth or
other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which
the protective equipment will be used"
The use of PPE is not optional. Basically, PPEs are required to be "impervious" (fluid-proof)
Employees should be trained in the appropriate protective attire to be worn for the tasks they
perform, and in the potential health and disciplinary consequences if they fail to do so. - correct
answer ✔✔ Training should be documented and routinely verified as part of departmental
competencies.
