DecontaminationQuestion 17 of 100
A new sterile processing department is being designed. Which statement describes correct workflow?
a.Work flows in one direction only, from soiled receiving through decontamination to clean assembly, sterilization, and storage
b.Clean and soiled items may share a corridor as long as they travel at different times of day
c.Staff may move freely between decontamination and assembly as long as gloves are changed
d.Sterilizer loading may occur from either the clean or the soiled side depending on staffing
Explanation
Unidirectional flow with physical separation between soiled and clean areas is the fundamental design principle that prevents recontamination of processed items. Time separation on a shared corridor does not remove residual contamination or airborne risk. Moving between areas requires full removal of protective attire and hand hygiene, not just a glove change, and sterilizers are always loaded from the clean side.
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