MDRAO Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Exam Prep Resource

The requirement for positive pressurization in clean areas of a Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD) is essential to maintain a controlled environment that minimizes the risk of contamination. Positive pressurization ensures that the air within the clean area is at a higher pressure compared to adjacent areas, which prevents the entry of unfiltered air and potential contaminants.

This practice is critical in maintaining the integrity of sterile items and avoiding exposure to airborne pathogens. Positive pressure helps to push contaminants away from the clean area, which is especially important in environments where sterile instruments and devices are being handled.

Negative pressurization, on the other hand, is used in areas where contaminants are being controlled, such as in the handling of infectious materials, to prevent their escape into the surrounding environment. Neutral pressurization does not provide the additional protection needed, while variable pressurization might not consistently maintain the necessary pressure levels to ensure a sterile environment.