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What directly affects sterility maintenance?
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What is shelf life?
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Chapter 9
Sterile Storage
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What directly affects sterility maintenance? | packaging materials, storage methods and conditions, handling practices, and methods of distribution. |
| What is shelf life? | Shelf life is the period of time during which a steril item is considered safe to use. |
| Shelf life is considered to be _________________ not _____________________. | Shelf life is considered to be event-related not time-relatee. |
| Sterile items that are protected from the environment have been proven to remain sterile for how long? | indefinitely |
| In most health care facilities today, items are considered to be sterile unless the packaging has been ____________, ____________, or other wise _________________. | opened, damaged, or compromised. |
| Whether or not there is an expiration date, damage to packaging renders an item _______________? | unsterile |
| Sterility maintence covers should be made of what type of materials and how thick should it be? | Sterility maintence covers should be made of plastic and be 2-3 mils thick. |
| How often should a package be checked for integrity? | Every time it is handled. |
| Inspections of packages for integrity should include what? | Examinations for holes, tears, and improper seals, which could allow the introduction of microorganisms into the package contents. |
| Staining on a package is an indication of what? | Staining of a package is an indication of contamination by moisture? |
| What happens when an item is dropped on the floor? | When an item is dropped on the floor, compression force dust, debris, or microorganisms into the package. |
| How can the sterility of a package be compromised? | The sterility of a package can be compromised by physical damage, such as holes and tears, can be caused by excessive or improper handling and by storage cart conditions. |
| What does tears and holes do a sterile package? | Tears and holes allows airborne bacteria and dust to penetrate the package, compromising the sterility of the product. |
| Packages should not be stored in what manner? | Packages should not be stored in a manner that will crush, bend, puncture, or compress them. Storage bins, carts, and shelves should not be overloaded. |
| What will moisture do to sterile packages? | Moisture will allow microorganisms from the air and surgaces to wick through the packaging materials. |
| Any package that is visually soild should be considered what? | Contaminated, and it's contents should be either reprocessed or discarded. |
| Sterile items should only be handled how many times? | 4 times |
| Where should sterile storage areas be locatated? | Sterile storage areas should be placed adjacent to the sterilization area and away from the main traffic flow within the department. |
| To reduce the potential for contamination of sterile items, traffic in the sterile storage area should be restricted to who? | authorized personnel only |
| The ventilation system of the sterile storage department must provide how many air exchanges per hour? What should the temperature and humidy be at of the department? | Sterile storage should have at least 4 air exchanges per hour at positive pressure. The temperature should not exceed 75ºF (24ºC) and the relative humidity should not exceed 70%. |
| How should the temperature and humidity of the department be monitored? | Thermometer (measures temperature) and hygrometer (measures humidity) |
| All medical devices kept in sterile storage area must be at least how many inches from the floor to protect them from contamination during floor cleaning? | 8-10 inches from the floor |
| As an added protection, the bottom shelf of the storage carts should be? | Solid, or impervious shelf liners or storage bins should be used. |
| Sterile items stored on top shelves should be how far from sprinkler heads? | 18" |
| Shelving must be kept how far from outside walls? and why? | 2" becasue temperature differences between the outside and the inside can cause moisture to condense on the surface of inside walls. |
| Why is cardboard and shipping materials considered soiled? | Because they harbor bacteria and insects. |
| Small packages and items packaged in peel pouches should be stored where? | In impervious bins |
| Where should heavy insturments be stored on shelving? | Middle shelves for ease of handling by staff. |
| Where should frequently handled instruments be stored on shelving? | Frequently used items should be used on the middle shelf and less commonly used items on other shelves. |
| It is helpful to store items by what? | The category (laparotomy trays together with other general service trays; and all urology trays.)Similarly products can be stored accoring to body system to facilitate their retrieval. |
| What aid is used to help facilitate the retrieval of items and locating where items are in sterile storage? | Locator File |
| What helps to minimize the need for reprocessing and to prevent outdates of dated devices? | Proper stock rotation and frequent evaluation of stock levels. |
| What is the fist in first (FIFO) out rule? | The First in First Out Rule is using the "oldest" supplies first promotes proper stock rotation. |
| Why do Outdates occur? | Outdates occur because of excessive stock or poor stock rotation. |
Created by:
tlwatkins