16. True or false? Electronic equipment must be draped before
activating a hydrogen peroxide whole-room disinfection cycle.
a. true b. false
Answer: b. Hydrogen peroxide won't harm electronic components, but
it can irritate the eyes and respiratory system. Seal doors and ventila-
tion ports of the treated room, and vacate the room during the cycle.
17. True or false? Multidrug-resistant organisms can develop last-
ing biofilms on surfaces that are wiped down several times a day.
a. true b. false
Answer: a. Familiarize yourself with the microbes that a surface dis-
infectant product is effective against, and the required contact time.
Clostridium difficile's spores, for example, can live on hard surfaces
for several months, surviving regular treatments if they don't involve
chlorine bleach or high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
18. Which is not a reliable method for validating surface disinfection?
a. aerobic colony counts
b. fluorescent markers and ultraviolet light
c. adenosine triphosphate testing
d. covert observation and reporting of room turnovers
Answer: d. Visual inspection isn't particularly reliable for determining
the presence of microbes surviving on a surface following routine clean-
ing. While quick swabbing tests like preemptive fluorescent markers or
ATP's warning signals can only spot-check select surfaces, they deliver
more rapid results than the 2 days that colony counts require.
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