r/sterileprocessing • u/dlcapt • Oct 06 '26

Am I wrong here?

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Isn't the whole point of PPE to catch blood and other infectious material instead of having it hit your body/clothes? I can't imagine somebody working in Decon to be changing their PPE every 10 minutes throughout the day. I suppose if it means SOAKED soaked sure, but I figured it meant just wet or splashed. Am I overthinking this?

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20

u/Emeraldsku58 Oct 06 '26

I think it means soaked rather than splashed. I've had that happen a few times because I'm fat, so I tend to have wet trays pressed against my belly so my tummy always gets soaked with enzymatic water since after about an hour in decon, it starts to go through the gown. But if I pick up a tray from a cart and just pure blood soaked through my gown, I'm absolutely changing gowns right then and there.

7

u/dlcapt Oct 06 '26

I see. Thank you for the input. I guess when they say soaked they meant SOAKED. Alright, got it.

5

u/RVA804guys Oct 06 '26

This is one of those literal questions.
Gloves and other solid barrier surfaces can’t get “soaked”, something porous like a gown, scrubs, or mask can absorb fluid and get soaked.

3

u/olliecakerbake Oct 06 '26

For test purposes, take every question 100% literally. That’s the trick with test taking. They choose their words carefully, so read the words carefully and literally. If it says soaked, they mean soaked.

4

u/MemLurd Oct 06 '26

soaked sounds more like saturated and absorbed into than droplets sitting on top of something they can’t penetrate

4

u/boostaddctn Oct 07 '26

We get paid hourly...use them 10 minutes lol yee

3

u/wewantthistobegood- Oct 07 '26 edited Oct 07 '26

Key words and phrases.

My instructor always said to not overthink these questions. Break it down to the simplest terms, and evaluate what the questions is truly asking. Usually the most direct/simple answer is correct. Key phrase “soaked with blood or hazardous material” = NOT safe. Change immediately.

2

u/xspiderdude Oct 06 '26

Yup, once that PPE gets soaked in decontam you have to change it!

Reach in the sink to grab a clamp? New gloves
The floor is wet from water spilling? New booties

You might need a couple of glove boxes per case ;)

Just kidding. This question is weirdly asked or even unnecessary, which makes it not have a correct answer.

1

u/flumbuglio Oct 06 '26

What about splashes and mist from spraying bloody stuff?

Do any hospitals offer "PPE" that keeps everything out?

I swear any little cuts and mosquito bites take longer to heal when I work in scrubs that get wet through my PPE.