Which of the following is TRUE about disinfection in a surgical unit using Glutaraldehyde?

NORCET -4 , 2023

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET -4 , 2023

Explanation

The statement that the minimum contact period for disinfection is 20 minutes is correct for achieving high-level disinfection with a standard 2% glutaraldehyde solution.
High-level disinfection is a process that destroys all vegetative microorganisms, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses, but not necessarily high numbers of bacterial spores.
This 20-minute soak time at room temperature is a widely accepted standard in infection control protocols for heat-sensitive instruments like endoscopes.

Option A: The reuse life of an activated glutaraldehyde solution is typically 14 days, not 7. Using it beyond its expiry or when the concentration drops can lead to disinfection failure.
Option B: The standard and most commonly used concentration for high-level disinfection is 2% to 2.4% glutaraldehyde. A 1% solution would not be sufficiently potent.
Option C: Glutaraldehyde solutions must be used at their activated concentration and should not be diluted with water. Dilution significantly weakens the disinfectant properties, making it ineffective.

Visual 1: Infographic: Step-by-step guide for high-level disinfection using glutaraldehyde, showing pre-cleaning, immersion in a covered tray, timing, rinsing with sterile water, and proper drying and storage.
Visual 2: Chart: Comparison of High-Level Disinfectants, showing Glutaraldehyde, Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), and Peracetic Acid with their respective contact times, advantages, and disadvantages.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Principles of high-level disinfection using glutaraldehyde in a clinical setting as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Correctly using high-level disinfectants like glutaraldehyde is a cornerstone of infection prevention, directly impacting patient safety by preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from contaminated medical devices.
Nurses are responsible for ensuring that protocols for disinfection and sterilization are followed precisely, including verifying solution concentration with test strips and documenting the process.
What if? If a nurse, in a hurry, soaks an endoscope for only 10 minutes, the process would fail to achieve high-level disinfection. This could leave mycobacteria or certain viruses on the instrument, posing a significant risk of transmitting infection to the next patient.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the question type. This is a factual recall question asking for a single TRUE statement among four options.
Read the stem carefully: 'TRUE about disinfection... using Glutaraldehyde'. The keywords are 'TRUE' and 'Glutaraldehyde'.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of disinfection principles.
Option A (7 days use): Recall the standard reuse life. 14-28 days is the standard, so 7 days is likely incorrect.
Option B (1% concentration): Recall the standard concentration. 2% is the standard for high-level disinfection, so 1% is likely incorrect.
Option C (Dilute 1:5): Recall the preparation process. High-level disinfectants are used at a specific strength and dilution renders them ineffective. This is likely incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Principles of high-level disinfection using glutaraldehyde in a clinical setting.
Stem keywords: disinfection, surgical unit, Glutaraldehyde
Lead-in keywords: TRUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

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