Infection Prevention & SafetyQuestion 92 of 100
During orientation, a technician is asked to define the term bioburden. Which answer is correct?
a.The amount of chemical residue remaining on an instrument after rinsing
b.The number of viable microorganisms present on an item before sterilization
c.The total weight of an assembled instrument set
d.The concentration of endotoxin in the final rinse water
Explanation
Bioburden is the microbial population on a device prior to sterilization, and reducing it through thorough cleaning is what makes the sterilization process reliable. Higher starting bioburden means more organisms must be killed to reach the same sterility assurance level. Chemical residue, set weight, and endotoxin levels are separate quality parameters with their own controls.
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