LTC-CIP Study Set 3 Exam UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Cleaning - CORRECT ANSWER is the removal of foreign material (e.g., soil, organic
material) from objects. It is required before disinfection and sterilization can occur since
foreign material interferes with the effectiveness of these processes.
Disinfection - CORRECT ANSWER thermal or chemical destruction of pathogenic
and other types of microorganisms. Disinfection is less lethal than sterilization because it
destroys most recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all microbial forms
(e.g., bacterial spores)
Sterilization - CORRECT ANSWER results in sterility, which is the state of being free
from all living microorganisms. In practice, this is usually described as a probability function
(e.g., as the probability of a microorganism surviving sterilization being one in one million).
Critical items - CORRECT ANSWER are objects or instruments that must be free of
any microorganisms, including bacterial spores, when they enter sterile tissue, bone, or the
vascular system in order to not introduce microorganisms into the site that would result in an
infection or a disease. Examples include:
Surgical instruments.
Cardiac and urinary catheters.
Implants.
Ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavities.
Semicritical items - CORRECT ANSWER are those that come in contact with mucous
membranes or non-intact skin. These medical devices should be free of all microorganisms
(i.e., mycobacteria, fungi, viruses, bacteria), although small numbers of bacterial spores may
be present. Examples include:
Respiratory therapy and anesthesia equipment.
Gastrointestinal endoscopes.
Bronchoscopes.
, Laryngoscopes.
Esophageal manometry probes.
Anorectal manometry catheters.
Endocavitary probes (e.g., rectal and vaginal probes).
Prostate biopsy probes.
Infrared coagulation devices.
Diaphragm fitting rings.
Noncritical items - CORRECT ANSWER are those that come in contact with intact
skin but not mucous membranes. Intact skin acts as an effective barrier to most
microorganisms; therefore, the sterility of items coming in contact with intact skin is not
critical. Noncritical items may be split into two groups: patient or resident care equipment
and environmental surfaces.
Examples of patient and resident care equipment include:
Stethoscopes.
Bedpans.
Blood pressure cuffs.
Crutches.
Bed rails.
Poles.
Monitors.
Wheelchairs.
Examples of environmental surfaces include:
Counters.
Sinks.
Bedside tables.
Resident furniture.
Floors.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Cleaning - CORRECT ANSWER is the removal of foreign material (e.g., soil, organic
material) from objects. It is required before disinfection and sterilization can occur since
foreign material interferes with the effectiveness of these processes.
Disinfection - CORRECT ANSWER thermal or chemical destruction of pathogenic
and other types of microorganisms. Disinfection is less lethal than sterilization because it
destroys most recognized pathogenic microorganisms but not necessarily all microbial forms
(e.g., bacterial spores)
Sterilization - CORRECT ANSWER results in sterility, which is the state of being free
from all living microorganisms. In practice, this is usually described as a probability function
(e.g., as the probability of a microorganism surviving sterilization being one in one million).
Critical items - CORRECT ANSWER are objects or instruments that must be free of
any microorganisms, including bacterial spores, when they enter sterile tissue, bone, or the
vascular system in order to not introduce microorganisms into the site that would result in an
infection or a disease. Examples include:
Surgical instruments.
Cardiac and urinary catheters.
Implants.
Ultrasound probes used in sterile body cavities.
Semicritical items - CORRECT ANSWER are those that come in contact with mucous
membranes or non-intact skin. These medical devices should be free of all microorganisms
(i.e., mycobacteria, fungi, viruses, bacteria), although small numbers of bacterial spores may
be present. Examples include:
Respiratory therapy and anesthesia equipment.
Gastrointestinal endoscopes.
Bronchoscopes.
, Laryngoscopes.
Esophageal manometry probes.
Anorectal manometry catheters.
Endocavitary probes (e.g., rectal and vaginal probes).
Prostate biopsy probes.
Infrared coagulation devices.
Diaphragm fitting rings.
Noncritical items - CORRECT ANSWER are those that come in contact with intact
skin but not mucous membranes. Intact skin acts as an effective barrier to most
microorganisms; therefore, the sterility of items coming in contact with intact skin is not
critical. Noncritical items may be split into two groups: patient or resident care equipment
and environmental surfaces.
Examples of patient and resident care equipment include:
Stethoscopes.
Bedpans.
Blood pressure cuffs.
Crutches.
Bed rails.
Poles.
Monitors.
Wheelchairs.
Examples of environmental surfaces include:
Counters.
Sinks.
Bedside tables.
Resident furniture.
Floors.
