Quaternary ammonium salts are routinely used to sanitize: a. ...

[olgavictoria]

Quaternary ammonium salts are routinely used to sanitize:
 
  a. ventilator tubing. c. walls and furniture.
  b. ventilator surfaces. d. critical respiratory care equipment.

Question 2

The respiratory therapist is in a contact isolation room with a patient. The stethoscope for use with this patient is located within the patient's room. Which of the following is the most appro-priate solution for disinfecting this stethoscope?
 
  a. Acetic acid c. Glutaraldehyde
  b. Ethylene oxide d. Isopropyl alcohol

[durant1234]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Quats are bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal toward lipophilic viruses. They are not sporicidal, tuberculocidal, or virucidal toward hydrophilic viruses. They are used to sanitize noncritical sur-faces like walls and furniture. Most ventilator tubing is disposable and is therefore not cleaned and disinfected.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Alcohols are used to disinfect equipment such as thermometers, stethoscopes, and fiberoptic en-doscopes; in addition, they are used to clean the surfaces of mechanical ventilators and prepara-tion areas. Acetic acid is the disinfectant of choice with home respiratory care equipment and is not often used in the hospital setting. Glutaraldehyde is a respiratory irritant and would not be appropriate for use in patient care areas. Ethylene oxide cannot be used at the bedside because it requires specialized equipment and takes several steps to prepare it for disinfectant use.

[olgavictoria]

Excellent

[FergA]

TYSM