I-APIC CIC Q&A February 2016

Which of the following indicators is most accurate for assessing whether surgical instruments have bene processed correctly in a steam sterilization cycle? Autoclave tape Chemical indicator Biological indicator The cycle indicator on the steam sterilizer

C. Biological Indicators (BI) A biological indicator is the only method of assuring that a steam sterilizer has reached the correct conditions to ensure sterility of products. Use of a BI provides reliable, qualitative evidence that all spore-forming organisms have been inactivated during the sterilization cycle.

Specificity of a test for infection or disease is calculated as: The number of true negatives divided by the number of positives found, times 100 The number of true negatives divided by the total number of persons with disease, times 100 The number of true positives divided by the total number of person with disease, times 100 The number of true negatives divided by the total number of person without disease, times 100

D. The number of true negatives divided by the total number of person without disease, times 100 Sensitivity (also called the true positive rate) measures the proportion of actual positives that are correctly identified as such (e.g. the percentage of sick people who are correctly identified as having the condition). Specificity (aka true negative rate) measure the proportion of negatives that are correctly identified as such (e.g., the percentage of healthy people who are correctly identified as not having the condition) Specificity=true negatives/true negatives + false positives or d/(d+b)

Help make hand hygiene part of the culture at St. Luke’s. Hand Hygiene: The St. Luke’s Standard Help make hand hygiene part of the culture at St. Luke’s.