The proper care and handling of your valuable surgical instruments will improve their longevity and function. Choose a protocol appropriate for your environment from the cleaning techniques below. See the videos here. Show
RINSINGImmediately after use, rinse instruments under warm or cool running water to remove all blood, body fluids and tissue. Dried soils may damage the instrument surface and make cleaning very difficult. Do not use hot water as this will coagulate proteinous substances. CLEANING TECHNIQUESTime, temperature, and agitation play important roles in the cleaning process. Time — the efficiency of cleaning chemicals is often time dependant Temperature — higher temperature cleaning solutions result in better cleaning Agitation — whether manual or ultrasonic, it is helpful in loosening the soil on the surface of the instrument Ultrasonic Cleaning1. Mix enzymatic (Enzol — WPI #7363), or other neutral pH or mild alkaline detergent (Alconox — WPI #13740) per manufacturer recommendations. 2. Use deionized water, if available. 3. Run ultrasonic cleaner for several minutes to degas the solution and obtain correct temperature. 4. Place instruments in open position into the ultrasonic cleaner. Do not allow instruments with sharp blades to touch other instruments. All instruments must be fully submerged. 5. Do not place dissimilar metals (stainless, copper, chrome plated, etc.) in the same cleaning cycle. 6. Instruments should be processed in cleaner for 5-10 minutes. 7. Rinse instruments with water to remove ultrasonic cleaning solution and any remaining soils. 8. Dry instruments thoroughly with a clean towel. This minimizes the risk of corrosion and formation of water spots. 9. Use spray lubricant (WPI # 500126) in the hinges to improve function of instrument. Automatic Washer SterilizersFollow manufacturer’s recommendations. Lubricate instruments after last rinse cycle and before sterilization cycle. Manual Cleaning1. Use stiff plastic cleaning brushes. Do not use steel wool or wire brushes. 2. Use only neutral pH detergents. If not rinsed properly, low pH detergents may breakdown the stainless protective surface and cause black staining. High pH detergents may cause surface deposits of brown stains, which can interfere with the smooth operation of the instrument. 3. Brush delicate instruments carefully and, if possible, handle them separately from general instruments. 4. Inspect all instrument surfaces to ensure they are visibly clean and free of stains and tissue. Inspect each instrument for proper function and condition. Scissor blades should glide smoothly and the blades must not be loose when in closed position. Check that forceps tips are properly aligned. Hemostats and needle holders should not show light between the jaws, they should lock and unlock easily, and the joints should not be too loose. Check needle holder jaws for wear. Examine cutting instruments and knives to be sure their blades are sharp and undamaged. 5. Rinse instruments thoroughly under running water. While rinsing, open and close scissors, hemostats, needle holders and other hinged instruments to ensure that hinge areas are also rinsed. 6. Dry instruments thoroughly with a clean towel. This minimizes the risk of corrosion and formation of water spots. Use spray lubricant (WPI # 500126) in the hinges to improve function of instrument. SoakingLarge, non-delicate instruments can be soaked in a corrosion inhibiting detergent (Alconox — WPI #13740) when other cleaning methods are not practical. Rinsing and drying after soaking is recommended. STERILIZINGAutoclaving2. Instruments may be autoclaved individually or in sets.
3. Never lock an instrument during autoclaving. This will prevent the steam from reaching and sterilizing the metal-to-metal surfaces. Furthermore, heat expansion during autoclaving can cause cracks in hinge areas. 4. Do not overload the autoclave chamber, as this may also hinder steam penetration. 5. Place a towel on bottom of pan to absorb excess moisture during autoclaving. 6. At the end of the autoclave cycle (before the drying cycle) unlock autoclave door and open it no more than a crack (about 3/4”). Run dry cycle for the period recommended by the autoclave manufacturer. If the autoclave door is opened fully before the drying cycle, cold room air will rush into the chamber, causing condensation on the instruments. This will result in water stains on instruments and also cause wet packs. Cold SterilizationMost cold sterilization solutions
require a 10-hour immersion to render instruments sterile, but this prolonged chemical action may be more detrimental to surgical instruments than the 20-minute autoclave cycle. If the instruments need only to be disinfected (basically clean), cold sterilization is acceptable since disinfection will take place in only 10 minutes. STORAGEInstruments should be stored in a clean and dry environment until use. STAIN GUIDE FOR STAINLESS STEELAlthough stainless steel is corrosion resistant, it can still rust and/or stain if handled improperly. To determine if a discoloration is rust or just a stain, erase the discoloration with a pencil eraser. If there is pitting in the metal under the discoloration, it is corrosion. If the discoloration is removed, it was just a stain.
See Selection Which method is used to sterilize delicate instruments or instruments with moving parts?Steam or autoclave sterilization is the most common method of instrument sterilization. Instruments are placed in a surgical pack and exposed to steam under pressure. A sterilization indicator (required) such as autoclave tape or an indicator strip is used to identify instruments that have been sterilized.
Which of the following is part of the sanitization of soiled instruments?What is part of sanitization of equipment ? Soaking instruments in detergent solution .
When preparing instruments for sanitization you should?29 Cards in this Set. Which term describes the process of killing pathogenic organisms or rendering them inactive?Thermal or chemical destruction of pathogenic and other types of microorganisms.
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