Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

What is the wound classification for a bronchoscopy?

1. Clean

2. Contaminated

3. Dirty and infected

4. Clean-contaminated

The correct answer is: Clean-contaminated

A bronchoscopy is considered a clean-contaminated procedure. This classification arises because, during a bronchoscopy, the airway is entered, which is part of the respiratory tract that is typically sterile but can be exposed to normal flora. While the procedure itself is intended to be safe and often performed using aseptic techniques, the act of accessing the tracheobronchial tree can introduce bacteria from the upper airways. Thus, the clean-contaminated classification reflects both the potential for slight contamination and the sterile conditions typically maintained during the procedure. In contrast, a clean classification would apply to procedures where there is no involvement of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tracts, and where the site has not been contaminated. A contaminated wound would indicate a procedure involving a significant break in aseptic technique or gross spillage of contaminated material, which does not apply to bronchoscopy. Meanwhile, dirty and infected refers to wounds that already show signs of infection, typically arising from procedures that involve a known infection or drainage of purulent material, which is also not relevant in this case.