Textbook Question
Which of the following chemicals is active against bacterial endospores?
a. Copper ions
b. Ethylene oxide
c. Ethanol
d. Triclosan
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11. Controlling Microbial Growth
Chemical Methods to Control Microbial Growth
Multiple Choice
Which of the following materials require high-level germicides for proper disinfection?
A
Non-critical items such as stethoscopes
B
Surgical instruments used in invasive procedures
C
Reusable blood pressure cuffs
D
Environmental surfaces like floors and walls
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the classification of medical items based on the Spaulding classification system, which divides items into critical, semi-critical, and non-critical categories depending on the risk of infection associated with their use.
Step 2: Identify that critical items are those that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system, such as surgical instruments used in invasive procedures, and therefore require sterilization or high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms including spores.
Step 3: Recognize that non-critical items, like stethoscopes and reusable blood pressure cuffs, come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes or sterile body sites, so they require low-level or intermediate-level disinfection rather than high-level germicides.
Step 4: Note that environmental surfaces such as floors and walls are generally disinfected with low-level disinfectants because they pose a lower risk of transmitting infections.
Step 5: Conclude that surgical instruments used in invasive procedures require high-level germicides for proper disinfection due to their critical nature and the risk of infection if contaminated.
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