INFECTION PREVENTION STANDARDS
FOR ELECTROLYSIS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Low-level disinfection - Answer-A process capable of inactivating most bacteria,
some viruses and fungi but not bacterial spores or Mycobacterium tuberculosis
var.bovis (TB). Appropriate for disinfecting environmental or medical equipment
(non-instrument) surfaces. Registered as hospital disinfectant by the EPA.
Examples: quaternary ammonium compounds, certain iodophors and phenolics.
Some hospital disinfectants. Used on: Environmental surfaces
Dry heat sterilizer - Answer-An oven-type device specially designed to sterilize items
by exposure to high temperatures for a designated period of time. Regulated by the
FDA.
Enzyme detergent - Answer-The solution that helps break down organic soils and
fats and suspends particles during cleaning. Its used as a soaking solution for
critical, semi-critical and non-critical instruments. Used as a detergent in the
ultrasonic device. Temperature and dilution affect their efficacy.
Semi-critical items are - Answer-Items that may come in contact with mucous
membranes and non-intact skin but do not ordinarily penetrate body surfaces.
Require sterilization or the use of a high-level disinfectant.
Examples: Needle holder caps (treated as critical), Phoresis applicators or rollers (do
not use carbon rollers as they are porous and cannot be disinfected or sterilized)
Non-critical items - Answer-Instruments or environmental surfaces that will come in
contact with intact skin. If properly cleaned and maintained, these surfaces carry
relatively little risk of transmitting infection directly or indirectly to clients. They should
be cleaned and then treated with an intermediate or low level disinfectant.
Environmental surfaces:
1. Medical equipment, lamps, carts. Epilator cords, indifferent electrode
2. Floors, walls, knobs, tabletops, window sills.)
Gloves - Answer-Coverings for the hands made of various materials, which provide
protective barrier against infections and toxic substances. Used in addition to and not
as a substitute of hand hygiene. Petroleum based hand lotions may adversely affect
integrity of latex gloves.
Three types:
- Examination gloves
- Food handler gloves
- Cleaning and other non-medical gloves
Examination gloves - Answer-Nonsterile, medical grade, disposable patient
examination gloves, made of natural rubber latex or synthetic material. Worn during
electrolysis treatments and during cleaning procedures to provide a barrier to
, prevent exposure to potentially infectious materials and other contaminants.
Regulated by the FDA.
Food handler gloves are - Answer-Used as a protective, disposable barrier over
examination gloves during treatment interruption to prevent contamination from
touching objects, such as knobs, phones, pens, etc. Discarded after each use.
Cleaning and other non-medical gloves - Answer-General purpose, heavy duty,
reusable, puncture resistant utility gloves (rubber household). May be used for
housekeeping chores, instrument cleaning and decontamination procedures that
involve potential contact with contaminants.
Washed and dried between each use and labeled for use by one individual.
Discarded when showing signs of deterioration. Not regulated by the FDA.
Not regulated by the FDA.
Hospital disinfectant - Answer-Chemical germicide with label claims for effectiveness
against:
salmonella choleraesuis,
staphylococcus aureus,
pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Classified as Intermediate-level or Low-level, .as indicated in their labels. Regulated
by the EPA. Appropriate for environmental or medical surfaces but not as the final
step in processing electrolysis instruments.
Mechanical or visible indicators - Answer-Monitoring devices built into a sterilizer
such as thermometers, pressure gauges, automatic controls.
Assist in identifying and preventing malfunctions and operational errors in a sterilizer
cycle.
Needle - Answer-Solid wire filament or electrode inserted into a hair follicle for
application of electric current during electrolysis procedures. Needles used in
electrolysis may come in contact with blood. serum or other material, therefore they
should be purchased pre-sterilized and disposable for one use only.
Treated as critical items. Properly disposed in sharps container.
Needle holder cap - Answer-Plastic cap holding the shaft of the needle in place on
the needle cord. Considered semi-critical items and may come in contact with blood,
serum or other material, therefore the first steps of processing is soaking and
cleaning.
Black caps are heat stable and after initial cleaning should be packaged prior to
sterilization (autoclave or dry heat). White caps are heat sensitive and after initial
cleaning are sterilized in the autoclave or exposed to a high level disinfectant before
reuse.
Non-intact skin - Answer-Areas of the skin that has been opened by abrasions, cuts,
rashes, dermatitis, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils which would
allow bloodborne pathogens to enter the body.
FOR ELECTROLYSIS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Low-level disinfection - Answer-A process capable of inactivating most bacteria,
some viruses and fungi but not bacterial spores or Mycobacterium tuberculosis
var.bovis (TB). Appropriate for disinfecting environmental or medical equipment
(non-instrument) surfaces. Registered as hospital disinfectant by the EPA.
Examples: quaternary ammonium compounds, certain iodophors and phenolics.
Some hospital disinfectants. Used on: Environmental surfaces
Dry heat sterilizer - Answer-An oven-type device specially designed to sterilize items
by exposure to high temperatures for a designated period of time. Regulated by the
FDA.
Enzyme detergent - Answer-The solution that helps break down organic soils and
fats and suspends particles during cleaning. Its used as a soaking solution for
critical, semi-critical and non-critical instruments. Used as a detergent in the
ultrasonic device. Temperature and dilution affect their efficacy.
Semi-critical items are - Answer-Items that may come in contact with mucous
membranes and non-intact skin but do not ordinarily penetrate body surfaces.
Require sterilization or the use of a high-level disinfectant.
Examples: Needle holder caps (treated as critical), Phoresis applicators or rollers (do
not use carbon rollers as they are porous and cannot be disinfected or sterilized)
Non-critical items - Answer-Instruments or environmental surfaces that will come in
contact with intact skin. If properly cleaned and maintained, these surfaces carry
relatively little risk of transmitting infection directly or indirectly to clients. They should
be cleaned and then treated with an intermediate or low level disinfectant.
Environmental surfaces:
1. Medical equipment, lamps, carts. Epilator cords, indifferent electrode
2. Floors, walls, knobs, tabletops, window sills.)
Gloves - Answer-Coverings for the hands made of various materials, which provide
protective barrier against infections and toxic substances. Used in addition to and not
as a substitute of hand hygiene. Petroleum based hand lotions may adversely affect
integrity of latex gloves.
Three types:
- Examination gloves
- Food handler gloves
- Cleaning and other non-medical gloves
Examination gloves - Answer-Nonsterile, medical grade, disposable patient
examination gloves, made of natural rubber latex or synthetic material. Worn during
electrolysis treatments and during cleaning procedures to provide a barrier to
, prevent exposure to potentially infectious materials and other contaminants.
Regulated by the FDA.
Food handler gloves are - Answer-Used as a protective, disposable barrier over
examination gloves during treatment interruption to prevent contamination from
touching objects, such as knobs, phones, pens, etc. Discarded after each use.
Cleaning and other non-medical gloves - Answer-General purpose, heavy duty,
reusable, puncture resistant utility gloves (rubber household). May be used for
housekeeping chores, instrument cleaning and decontamination procedures that
involve potential contact with contaminants.
Washed and dried between each use and labeled for use by one individual.
Discarded when showing signs of deterioration. Not regulated by the FDA.
Not regulated by the FDA.
Hospital disinfectant - Answer-Chemical germicide with label claims for effectiveness
against:
salmonella choleraesuis,
staphylococcus aureus,
pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Classified as Intermediate-level or Low-level, .as indicated in their labels. Regulated
by the EPA. Appropriate for environmental or medical surfaces but not as the final
step in processing electrolysis instruments.
Mechanical or visible indicators - Answer-Monitoring devices built into a sterilizer
such as thermometers, pressure gauges, automatic controls.
Assist in identifying and preventing malfunctions and operational errors in a sterilizer
cycle.
Needle - Answer-Solid wire filament or electrode inserted into a hair follicle for
application of electric current during electrolysis procedures. Needles used in
electrolysis may come in contact with blood. serum or other material, therefore they
should be purchased pre-sterilized and disposable for one use only.
Treated as critical items. Properly disposed in sharps container.
Needle holder cap - Answer-Plastic cap holding the shaft of the needle in place on
the needle cord. Considered semi-critical items and may come in contact with blood,
serum or other material, therefore the first steps of processing is soaking and
cleaning.
Black caps are heat stable and after initial cleaning should be packaged prior to
sterilization (autoclave or dry heat). White caps are heat sensitive and after initial
cleaning are sterilized in the autoclave or exposed to a high level disinfectant before
reuse.
Non-intact skin - Answer-Areas of the skin that has been opened by abrasions, cuts,
rashes, dermatitis, acne, pimples, lesions, surgical incisions, or boils which would
allow bloodborne pathogens to enter the body.
