SterilizationQuestion 41 of 100
Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS) is requested for a single dropped instrument during a case. Which statement is correct?
a.The item must still be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated before it is placed in the sterilizer
b.Cleaning may be abbreviated because the exposure temperature is higher
c.The item may be flash sterilized unwrapped and stored for later use if kept covered
d.IUSS eliminates the need for physical, chemical, and biological monitoring
Explanation
IUSS shortens the packaging and drying steps, not the cleaning step, and a device that is not properly cleaned cannot be sterilized by any cycle. Items processed by IUSS are transported for immediate use and are not stored for later cases. Physical monitors and chemical indicators are used with every IUSS cycle, and the sterilizer is monitored biologically at least daily or weekly per policy.
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Related questions on this topic
- A tray is removed from the sterilizer and the outer wrapper feels damp to the touch. What is the correct action?
- Wet packs are appearing intermittently across several loads. Which of the following is the least likely cause?
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- Which practice regarding IUSS and implants is correct?
- A typical IUSS gravity cycle for nonporous metal instruments only is 270 degrees F (132 degrees C) for 3 minutes. What changes when the item is porous, cannulated, or has a lumen?
- A surgeon sends a heat-sensitive device with a long narrow lumen and asks whether it can be processed with ethylene oxide. Which statement describes ethylene oxide sterilization?
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