Medical Device Reprocessing Association of Ontario (MDRAO) Practice Exam

Which devices are recommended to be single-use due to their difficulty in cleaning?

1. Surgical drapes

2. Needles and suction tips

3. Stethoscopes

4. Surgical instruments

The correct answer is: Needles and suction tips

The recommendation for certain devices to be single-use stems from their design and the inherent challenges faced in cleaning and reprocessing them effectively. Needles and suction tips are examples of devices that are often considered single-use because their structure does not permit thorough cleaning. Needles have sharp, pointed tips that can harbor contaminants, and any attempt to clean them can risk damage that makes them unsafe for reuse. Similarly, suction tips can accumulate debris and bodily fluids in areas that are difficult to access, making complete sterilization impractical. The potential for infection and compromised patient safety necessitates that these items are disposed of after a single usage. In contrast, surgical drapes, while often single-use in practice for convenience and hygiene, can sometimes be reused depending on the situation and regulations in place. Stethoscopes and surgical instruments are typically designed for multiple uses and can be effectively cleaned and sterilized between patients. This distinction in reprocessing capability is vital in determining whether a device should be single-use or can undergo reprocessing for multiple applications.