Bioburden Bible Quiz Summary & Objectives: 

Sterile processing and gastroenterology professionals face demanding tasks daily, from cleaning and inspecting thousands of instruments to managing heavy trays—all to ensure safe, sterile devices for patients. Often dismissed as mere “hospital dishwashers,” their role is much more complex, particularly given the unique challenges posed by human bioburden. Unlike ordinary dirt, bioburden requires specialized cleaning processes and tools. Let’s explore these unique types of bioburden and how they shape the specialized requirements of instrument reprocessing.

• Define the types of bioburden SPD and GI departments are responsible for removing from medical devices.
• Explain how enzymes interact with bioburden to aid in the denaturing of organic compounds to facilitate cleaning.
• Analyze the types of enzymes used in medical device reprocessing.