Infection ControlQuestion 61 of 100
How should an instrument processing area be laid out?
a.Clean and contaminated items may share one counter as long as they are wiped down
b.In a single direction from the contaminated receiving and cleaning area, to preparation and packaging, to sterilization, to clean storage
c.Sterile storage should be closest to the sink for convenience
d.Packaging should occur before instruments are cleaned
Explanation
The processing area must flow in one direction from dirty to clean, moving from receiving and cleaning through preparation and packaging to sterilization and finally to clean storage, so processed items are never recontaminated. Sharing a counter and placing sterile storage next to the dirty sink both invite cross-contamination. Instruments must always be cleaned before packaging, because debris shields microorganisms from the sterilant.
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