Infection ControlQuestion 66 of 100
Which organism is used in the spore test that verifies a steam autoclave is working?
a.Staphylococcus aureus
b.Mycobacterium tuberculosis
c.Geobacillus stearothermophilus
d.Escherichia coli
Explanation
Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores are highly heat resistant and are used to challenge steam autoclaves and unsaturated chemical vapor sterilizers. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are vegetative bacteria that are killed easily and cannot verify a sterilization cycle. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is used as a benchmark for disinfectant potency, not as a sterilizer spore test.
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