ENH 505 - Infection control final exam
questions and correct answers.
types of disinfectants - The type of disinfectant you need to use depends on the type of
services you provide and if the tools you are using are considered semi-critical or non-
critical.
Remember! Critical tools require sterilization
There are three levels of disinfection:
1. High-level disinfection
2. Intermediate-level disinfection
3. Low-level disinfection
high level disinfectant - A high level disinfectant is used for semi-critical items.
High-level disinfectants kill all types of germs (except large numbers of bacterial spores).
The label may say "high-level disinfectant" or "sterilant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine beach (1 part bleach, 9 parts water)
• ≥ 6% Hydrogen peroxide.
• 2% Hydrogen Peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
Remember: re-usable critical items MUST be sterilized
intermediate level disinfectant - An intermediate-level disinfectant is used for non-critical
items that may accidentally touch broken skin or mucous membranes, or break the skin.
Intermediate-level disinfectants kill most types of germs, but not
bacterial spores.
,The label may say "general disinfectant", "limited disinfectant"
or "hospital disinfectant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine bleach (1 part bleach, 49 parts water)
• 70-90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol
low level disinfectant - A low-level disinfectant is used for work surfaces and non-critical
items that do not directly touch the client or only touch hair or intact skin.
It can kill some types of germs but not mycobacteria or bacterial spores.
The label may say "general disinfectant", "limited disinfectant" or "hospital disinfectant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine bleach
(1 part bleach, 499 parts water)
• Quaternary ammonium
(e.g. 'barbicide')
• 0.5% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formula).
disinfectant and contact time - How well a disinfectant works depends on contact time.
what is contact time?
Contact time is the length of time that the surface of a piece of equipment or tool stays wet
with a disinfectant.
*Some disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach and alcohol do not have instructions because
contact time depends on how strong you mix the solution
Chlorine bleach - Chlorine bleach solution - Contact time is 10 minutes.
• Low-level - Mix 1/2 tsp of bleach to 1L of water (100ppm).
,• Intermediate-level - Mix 4 tsp of bleach to 1L of water (1000ppm).
High level - Mix 7 tbsp of bleach to 1L of water (5000ppm
tips about disinfectants - ü Check expiry dates.
ü Follow (if provided) instructions for contact time and proper dilution of disinfectant.
ü Follow safety data sheet for choosing the right PPE.
ü Products must have drug identification number (DIN) or a natural product number (NPN)
issued by Health Canada.
ü PSS operators should contact local public health unit before choosing a new disinfectant
product or if they are unsure which product to use.
Levels of Disinfectants:
Low Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 100ppm (1/2 tsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• Quaternary Ammonium (e.g. Barbicide)
0.5%hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
Intermediate-Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 1,000ppm (4 tsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• 70-90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol
0.5%hydrogenperoxide(enhancedactionformulation)
High Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 5,000ppm (7 tbsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• 2% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
• 6% hydrogen peroxide
0.55% ortho-phthaladehyde
Steam Sterilizer - the best sterilizer for heat-resistant tools and equipment is a steam
sterilizer.
Steam sterilizers work best when you follow the instructions for:
• Temperature and pressure
• Cycle length and size of the load
, • Packaging
Every new steam sterilizer must have a print out or a display that provides details of time,
temperature and pressure reached foreach cycle
unacceptable methods of reprocessing - The following are not to be used for sterilizing tools
and equipment:
• Dishwashers or microwave ovens
• Boiling
• Ultraviolet light or irradiation
• Glass bead sterilizers
• Pressure cookers
• Flash sterilization
• Chemiclaves
(has serious health risks)
Glutaraldehyde
(has serious health risks
sterilization packaging tools and equipment - Tools and equipment must be packaged before
sterilizing.
- Items must be clean and dry before packaging.
- Any moisture that remains after sterilization can lead to the items not being properly
sterilized.
• Use paper-plastic peel pouches.
• Make sure the pouch material can be used with the type of sterilizer you use. Contact the
manufacturer for more information.
questions and correct answers.
types of disinfectants - The type of disinfectant you need to use depends on the type of
services you provide and if the tools you are using are considered semi-critical or non-
critical.
Remember! Critical tools require sterilization
There are three levels of disinfection:
1. High-level disinfection
2. Intermediate-level disinfection
3. Low-level disinfection
high level disinfectant - A high level disinfectant is used for semi-critical items.
High-level disinfectants kill all types of germs (except large numbers of bacterial spores).
The label may say "high-level disinfectant" or "sterilant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine beach (1 part bleach, 9 parts water)
• ≥ 6% Hydrogen peroxide.
• 2% Hydrogen Peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
Remember: re-usable critical items MUST be sterilized
intermediate level disinfectant - An intermediate-level disinfectant is used for non-critical
items that may accidentally touch broken skin or mucous membranes, or break the skin.
Intermediate-level disinfectants kill most types of germs, but not
bacterial spores.
,The label may say "general disinfectant", "limited disinfectant"
or "hospital disinfectant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine bleach (1 part bleach, 49 parts water)
• 70-90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol
low level disinfectant - A low-level disinfectant is used for work surfaces and non-critical
items that do not directly touch the client or only touch hair or intact skin.
It can kill some types of germs but not mycobacteria or bacterial spores.
The label may say "general disinfectant", "limited disinfectant" or "hospital disinfectant".
Examples include:
• Chlorine bleach
(1 part bleach, 499 parts water)
• Quaternary ammonium
(e.g. 'barbicide')
• 0.5% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formula).
disinfectant and contact time - How well a disinfectant works depends on contact time.
what is contact time?
Contact time is the length of time that the surface of a piece of equipment or tool stays wet
with a disinfectant.
*Some disinfectants, such as chlorine bleach and alcohol do not have instructions because
contact time depends on how strong you mix the solution
Chlorine bleach - Chlorine bleach solution - Contact time is 10 minutes.
• Low-level - Mix 1/2 tsp of bleach to 1L of water (100ppm).
,• Intermediate-level - Mix 4 tsp of bleach to 1L of water (1000ppm).
High level - Mix 7 tbsp of bleach to 1L of water (5000ppm
tips about disinfectants - ü Check expiry dates.
ü Follow (if provided) instructions for contact time and proper dilution of disinfectant.
ü Follow safety data sheet for choosing the right PPE.
ü Products must have drug identification number (DIN) or a natural product number (NPN)
issued by Health Canada.
ü PSS operators should contact local public health unit before choosing a new disinfectant
product or if they are unsure which product to use.
Levels of Disinfectants:
Low Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 100ppm (1/2 tsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• Quaternary Ammonium (e.g. Barbicide)
0.5%hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
Intermediate-Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 1,000ppm (4 tsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• 70-90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol
0.5%hydrogenperoxide(enhancedactionformulation)
High Level - • Chlorine bleach solution 5,000ppm (7 tbsp of bleach to 1L of water)
• 2% hydrogen peroxide (enhanced action formulation)
• 6% hydrogen peroxide
0.55% ortho-phthaladehyde
Steam Sterilizer - the best sterilizer for heat-resistant tools and equipment is a steam
sterilizer.
Steam sterilizers work best when you follow the instructions for:
• Temperature and pressure
• Cycle length and size of the load
, • Packaging
Every new steam sterilizer must have a print out or a display that provides details of time,
temperature and pressure reached foreach cycle
unacceptable methods of reprocessing - The following are not to be used for sterilizing tools
and equipment:
• Dishwashers or microwave ovens
• Boiling
• Ultraviolet light or irradiation
• Glass bead sterilizers
• Pressure cookers
• Flash sterilization
• Chemiclaves
(has serious health risks)
Glutaraldehyde
(has serious health risks
sterilization packaging tools and equipment - Tools and equipment must be packaged before
sterilizing.
- Items must be clean and dry before packaging.
- Any moisture that remains after sterilization can lead to the items not being properly
sterilized.
• Use paper-plastic peel pouches.
• Make sure the pouch material can be used with the type of sterilizer you use. Contact the
manufacturer for more information.
