Infection Control, Sterilization and Patient Safety
What the exam tests
Infection Control, Sterilization and Patient Safety tests standard precautions, correct decontamination levels, safe waste handling and measures that prevent patient harm in a busy eye clinic.
Sterilisation and disinfection
Sterilisation kills all micro-organisms including spores; disinfection reduces them. Autoclaving at 121°C for about 15 minutes at 15 psi, or 134°C for 3–4 minutes, is standard for reusable instruments. High-level disinfection with glutaraldehyde or hydrogen peroxide kills most organisms but not necessarily spores. Tonometer prisms must be cleaned and disinfected according to the manufacturer's instructions and dried before use. Single-use devices must not be reused.
Patient safety
Follow the five moments of hand hygiene and use personal protective equipment. Place sharps immediately in a puncture-proof container and never recap needles. Identify every patient and mark the correct eye before procedures. Patients who have been dilated need help walking and should be warned about glare and driving. Segregate waste correctly: infectious waste, sharps and general waste go into their designated containers.
Worked example
A tonometer prism has been used on a patient with a red, watery eye. Reasoning: treat it as potentially infectious, clean it, then apply the approved high-level disinfection or use a single-use prism; dry it before reuse. Alcohol wipes may not be adequate against some viruses, so follow clinic policy.
Traps
Do not confuse disinfection with sterilisation, reuse a single-use item, skip hand hygiene between patients, or place sharps in a soft bag. Never assume that a visibly clean instrument is sterile.