QUESTIONS

1. What is meant by "aseptic technique"?
2. What is the term used to describe the presence of pathogens or their toxic products in the blood or tissues of the patient?
3. In what part of the body would septicaemia be found?
4. Why might advanced periodontal disease predispose a patient to renal and cardiac problems?
5. Describe the difference between asepsis and sterilisation.
6. What is the difference between disinfection and sterilisation?
7. When do most surgical wound infections occur and why?
8. What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous micro-organisms?
9. List 4 factors that influence wound infection.
10. Differentiate between a clean-contaminated and a contaminated wound.
11. Give an example of a clean-contaminated wound.
12. What are the 2 main types of sterilisation?
13. List 4 types of cold sterilisation.
14. List 4 disadvantages of sterilisation by ethylene oxide.
15. How does ethylene oxide work?
16. A pack of instruments is put into the ethylene oxide steriliser at 7pm on Monday. At what time and day would this pack be safe to use?
17. At what temperature is ethylene oxide sterilisation performed?
18. What is the main advantage of ethylene oxide sterilisation?
19. What material should not be sterilised by ethylene oxide and why?
20. What colour are the stripes on ethylene oxide sterilisation indicator tape before and after exposure to the gas?
21. What limitation is a concern when using ethylene oxide indicator tape?
22. State 2 alternatives to ethylene oxide indicator tape.
23. What is the main disadvantage of spore strips?
24. Why are formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde no longer in common use?
25. List 6 factors to be taken into consideration when using chemical solutions for sterilisation.
26. How do alcohol-based sterilisation solutions work?
27. Why is sterilisation by gamma irradiation not undertaken in veterinary practices?
28. State the 2 main types of heat sterilisation.
29. List the 3 types of sterilisation oven and briefly describe each.
30. Why must dry heat sterilisation be carried out at a higher temperature than moist heat sterilisation?
31. State the time and temperature recommended for the sterilisation of non-cutting instruments using a hot air oven.
32. State the 3 main types of autoclave and briefly describe each.
33. Which type of autoclave is also known as a porous load autoclave?
34. If an autoclave were operating at 126°C at a pressure of 20 psi, what sterilising time would be necessary to ensure the destruction of micro-organisms?
35. List 5 factors to be taken into account when using an autoclave.
36. State the 4 main methods of monitoring autoclave sterilisation efficiency and briefly describe each.
37. State 2 disadvantages of Bowie Dick tape.
38. Of the 3 methods listed in Q36, which is the most effective and why?
39. List 6 materials/containers used for the packing of supplies for sterilisation.
40. How should sterile packs be stored?