Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
The Importance of Cleaning Surgical Instruments
Importance of Cleaning Surgical Instruments
Summary: It is a recognized risk of exposure to unidentified microorganisms that processing personal endure during the reprocessing of surgical instruments. Our goal is to minimize the amount and degree of processing personal exposure to this risk and provide processed surgical instruments that are clean: safe to handle, safe for patient care, are processed at the lowest cost, and have received the prerequisite for disinfecting surgical instruments and/or sterilizing surgical instruments.
Typically, hospitals hand wash surgical instruments: with dried on or excessive debris, that incorporate working channels and/or lumens, or when automated washing is not available. Hand washing places the processing personnel at risk. In the decontamination area, surgical instruments are received that are contaminated with variable amounts of debris and unidentified microorganisms. In the clean side processing area, devices requiring further processing are handled by unprotected personnel.
"CLEANING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS BY HAND CAN LEAD TO INJURY AND INCREASED EXPOSURE TO HERPATITIS".1 THE CDC BELIEVES THAT "AS MANY AS 18,000 HEALTH CARE WORKERS PER YEAR MAY BE INFECTED BY THE HBV,” AND “AS MANY AS 300 DEATHS MAY RESULT ANNUALLY.”2
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
Workers at Risk Cleaning Surgical Instruments
Inherent in the manual decontamination process is power spraying, splashing, the creation of the contaminated aerosols and the potential for infectious punctured wounds. The handling of each individual device is time consuming, labor intensive, renders limited through-put and has high overhead costs.3
Exposure Contained by Automated Washer Decontaminator Cleaning Surgical Instruments
An automated washer decontaminator can, and should, safely contain within its chambers the washing action, removal of debris and contaminated aerosols. The batch treatment of devices by Washer Decontaminators saves time, increases material through-put, provides for FTE reduction and lower component cost. 7 8 It has been demonstrated that a properly designed Washer Decontaminator, that is used to manufacturer’s specifications, will consistently and repeatedly remove all microorganisms. 9 10
Washer Decontaminators should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s direction for use, to secure the most consistent and efficacious results. Worker safety or processing efficacy can be compromised by violating the manufacturer’s recommendations. Examples of such recommendations are: Keeping working chambers closed during processing and the use of purified water final rinses.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
A Clean Surgical Instrument is Safe to Handle 11
It is critical that devices are cleaned properly to secure the safety of workers in the clean area. During the steps of inspection, sorting and packaging of devices, the unprotected processing personnel are repeatedly at risk from a surgical instrument that has remained contaminated with microorganisms.
Within the implementation of the Universal Decontamination Precautions, it is our goal to eliminate exposure or reduce risk whenever possible.
Conclusion
The use of proper hand washing decontamination methods can render surgical instruments that are clean, but requires continual worker exposure to contaminated devises. The workers performance is influenced by skill level, knowledge and work load. This may impact the efficacy of the process. The use of a properly designed washer decontaminator eliminates and reduces overhead cost and provides consistence removal of all microorganisms. Once a surgical instrument is clean, it is then safe for further processing and handling. Proper cleaning is the prerequisite for disinfecting and/or sterilizing surgical instruments. Optimal cleaning can render surgical instruments that, at the end of the cleaning process, are sterile.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
References
1. Bryan P. Simmoms, MD. Et. Al., Guideline for Hospital Environmental Control and Guideline Ranking Scheme, Center for Disease Control, (Feb. 1981), Section 2, pp.1-10.
2. Letter from the secretary of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor, Oct. 30, 1988.
3. Peggy Ryan, RN, “concepts of Cleaning Technologies and Processing,” Journal of Healthcare Material Management, (Nov./Dec. ’87), pp.20-27.
4. Bertha Y. Litsky, PhD, “Microbiology Sterilization,” J. AORN, Aug. 1977.
5. CDC, MMWR, Aug. 21, 1987.
6. Ryan, op. cit.
7. Training manual for Central Services Technicians, American Society for Central Service Personnel of the American Hospital Association, (Chicago, IL, 1986).
8. Ryan, op. cit.
9. L.P. Jette’and N.G.Lambert, “Evaluation of Two Hot Water Washer Disinfectors for Medical Instruments, “ Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, Vo.1 9, No. 5, (1988), pp. 194-199.
10. Interview with Charles A. Reed, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University medical Center, Dec. 1985.
11. Simmons, op. cit.
John Temple
Product Development
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
Surgical Instrument Washer Decontaminators.
McCormick Medical Washer Racks are available for all of your washing applications. Contact McCormick Medical Customer Service for recommendations as to the rack designs, flushing manifolds, and instrument containment accessories that will optimize your productivity and deliver the highest quality surgical instrument cleaning outcomes.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
McCormick Medical Surgical Instrument Washers, Countertop Surgical Instrument Washer, Tabletop Surgical Instrument Washer, Under counter Surgical Instrument Washer, Surgical Instrument Washer Decontaminators.
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1, 2, 3, and 4 Level Surgical Instrument Washers Racks for cleaning the widest range of trays and utensils. Scope Racks deliver disinfected final phase rinses. Surgical Instrument Washer 11083.00 Rack with 40 ports cleans Surgical Instruments inside & out.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments, Clean is Safe
