The use of infected surgical equipment can result in serious health issues for patients. Before beginning surgery, medical professionals must consider the condition of the instruments.
In reality, cleaning surgical instruments is just as important as having the right equipment for a particular treatment. In addition, washing and sanitizing medical equipment reduces the likelihood of disease transmission between patients.
Both the people who clean surgical instruments and the doctors who use them should know how to clean them properly. In addition, they must be professionals at determining whether an instrument has been disinfected.
Several cleaning methods will be thoroughly examined in this comprehensive guide to cleaning surgical instruments. In addition, we shall differentiate between washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing medical equipment. Let's begin by learning the fundamentals of cleaning tools.
Cleaning Surgical Tools is Crucial
PeakSurgical instruments are medical experts' assisting hands. The significance of surgical tool cleaning is determined by the significance of medical equipment.
- Reduces the likelihood of disease transmissions, such as HIV and hepatitis B and C.
- Ensures the proper operation of the instruments during the procedure.
- Reduces the likelihood of surgical hand infections.
- Gives a clear view of the instruments from a variety of angles of use.
- Extends the durability of medical equipment.
- Protects the instruments from corrosion and rust.
- Prevents the collection of debris on the tools, which might be difficult to remove afterward.
- Maintains the correct movement of medical instrument hinges and lock boxes.
How to Clean Surgical equipment
There are various ways to sanitize surgical instruments. Each possesses a unique methodology. In addition, every cleaning procedure has its limitations and restrictions. Yet, the same cleaning agents and chemicals can be used for numerous cleaning procedures. Therefore, lab personnel must select the most effective approach for cleaning medical equipment.
In reality, the procedure of cleaning surgical instruments relies on the structure and composition of the instruments. Using conventional approaches and methods for cleaning and sanitizing medical equipment is optimal. In addition, instrument processing assistants should read the manufacturer-supplied operating instructions. It would help them understand how to clean surgical instruments properly and avoid difficulties.
Methods for sterilizing medical tools
Instructions on how to clean the medical tools
• Dampen
After using the instrument, wipe it down with a damp towel or soft cloth so that the blood and debris don't harden.
• Rinse (first time)
Put the tool in a neutral pH enzymatic detergent or sterile water that has been approved.
• Get rid of germs
Make a solution with disinfectants that have been tried and tested. Then, soak the instruments for 10 to 15 minutes in the solution.
• Rinse (second time)
After cleaning the instrument, rinse it again with clean water. It would help get the whole thing clean.
• Sterilize
In this step, use a steam sterilizer or an autoclave to kill all the germs on the instruments completely.
It is better to look at what the manufacturer says about the best way to sterilize something.
• Rinse (third and last time)
Rinse the tools one more time to get rid of any chemicals left over from the previous steps.
• Dry
Last, don't forget to dry the instruments. If you don't, they will rust and break down when you put them away.
Leave the instruments in an open but controlled area to dry with air. OR
You can use a towel without lint that will soak up any moisture on the instruments.
Approved Cleaning Chemicals for Surgical Instruments
There are authorized cleaning chemicals that are suitable for cleaning surgical instruments.
- Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing)
- Non-abrasive polish
- Distilled water with a pH of seven
- Gentle detergents
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda/Sodium Bicarbonate
- Alkaline chlorinated cleaners
- Hospital-grade disinfectants (bleach-free)
- Non-chloride cleaners
- Windex
Unrecommended Cleaning Chemicals
Certain cleaning products should be avoided, as they may cause damage to the instruments.
- Hydrochloric acid/muriatic acid
- Ammonia
- Hard Water / pH greater than 7
- Bleach
- Compounds containing chlorine
- Quaternary Salts
- Abrasive cleansers
Ways to Clean Surgical Instruments
There are three fundamental ways to sanitize surgical instruments. They consist of:
- Physical cleaning
- Washer Disinfectors sanitizing
- Ultrasonically Cleansing
Common surgical tool cleaning includes sink bay systems, ultrasonic cleaners, and washer disinfectors.
Let's examine each way of cleaning in detail.
Physical Cleaning
When surgical instruments have complicated parts and can't be cleaned by a machine, it's better to clean them by hand. Also, instruments with accumulated dirt and debris are cleaned manually. In this approach for washing surgical instruments, a three-bay washbasin is an intelligent choice. After a thorough cleaning in cold water, instruments must be stored in the first bay washbasin.
- In the second bay, use soft cleaning brushes to gently brush the instruments. To submerge the instruments as instructed by the IFU, clean the washbasin below the waterline to prevent exposure to germs and the formation of aerosols, particularly when using brushes to clean the lumens. Consider the use of low-foaming cleaning products.
- Use sterile water for rinsing in the third washbasin compartment.
Disinfectant Washer Cleaning
This method of sterilizing surgical instruments is optional.
For cleaning equipment, washers/disinfectors use spray arm technology with pressurized water. With a washer/disinfector, the water temperature, chemical content, and flow rate are all tailored to the load. The heat rinse phase of a washer/disinfector guarantees some disinfection. However, for the effective cleaning of medical equipment in washers/disinfectors, four cycles must be considered:
- Time Cycle: If the cycle is too short, cleaning may not be completed, but if it is too long, efficiency may be compromised.
• Temperature: Throughout the washer disinfection process, cleaning agents and certified pre-programmed cycles affect the temperature. Typically, enzymatic cleaning chemistries work best between 100-140 F/32-60 C in washers/disinfectors. Nevertheless, detergents can be used when the temperature is between 122-180 degrees Fahrenheit (50-82 degrees Celsius).
• Chemistry: Cleaning chemistries are determined by the manufacturer's instructions. While selecting the cleaning chemistry for a washer disinfector, it is prudent to take water quality and chemical concentration into account.
Impingement is the mechanical force that is applied by spray arms. Selecting a more aggressive cleaning chemical is more effective if the user has a washer/disinfector with low impedance. In high-impact washers, however, high-pressure water would assist effectively removing grime. Cleaning with a washer/disinfector is more consistent and productive due to the simplification of parameter control. However, personnel must receive adequate training on device loading to ensure optimal utilization.
Sonochemical Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning is preferred by experts for cleaning surgical instruments' lockboxes, hinges, and lumens, which are difficult-to-reach areas. In this technique for cleaning and sanitizing medical equipment, ultrasonic waves cause small bubbles on the surfaces of the instruments, which finally burst. As a result, the bursting of the bubbles helps to remove debris from the interior surfaces of the instruments.
How to Clean Surgical Equipment Using an Ultrasonic Cleaner
Follow the ultrasonic cleaning usage instructions.
- Maintain instruments in a germicidal or enzymatic pre-soak, such as Pre-zyme, until they are ready to be cleaned.
- Do not allow the equipment to become dry before ultrasonic cleaning.
- Use an ultrasonic cleaning solution designed specifically for surgical equipment cleaning.
- To completely immerse the instruments in the ultrasonic cleaning solution, place them in a hanging mesh tray or basket with handles.
- Prefer utilizing chemicals approved by the EPA. When diluted to 1 oz per gallon of water, it provides a cost-effective way to clean reusable surgical instruments.
- Before turning off the machine, the user-friendly control panel determines the temperature and cleaning time.
- Keep in mind that solution temperatures must be below 42 °C (1070 °F); otherwise, particles may "bake" onto the apparatus and become too large to be removed by sterilization.
- Move on to the steps for disinfecting or sterilizing the equipment once the ultrasonic cleaning cycle is done.
- Use suitable oil to grease the hinges and lockboxes of the instruments.
Although not every material or piece of equipment is appropriate for this procedure, ultrasonic cleaning saves time and eliminates all collected debris.
Distinction Between Cleansing, Decontaminating, and Sterilizing
The total decontamination of surgical tools consists of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing.
Let's review the distinctions between washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing surgical instruments.
Cleaning
After tools are utilized, they are cleaned. In other words, decontaminating the instruments is the initial step.
Visible material, trash, and grime are removed from the device during cleaning. For cleaning purposes, lab staff utilizes sterile water and detergents with a neutral pH. Follow cleaning with disinfection.
Disinfecting
The second process of decontamination is disinfection. It reduces the number of bacteria and germs on surgical toolsAt this step, technicians put the instruments for ten to fifteen minutes in an EPA-approved solution.The instruments are then washed to remove any residual disinfectant. The following disinfection is sterilization.
Sterilizing
It is the third and last phase of surgical instrument decontamination. Sterilizing medical equipment with an autoclave or steam is the most common and recommended way to do it. Sterilization eliminates all pathogens and renders devices fit for reuse.
In conclusion
As we've already talked about, it's just as important to clean surgical instruments as it is to have the basic tools for medical procedures. So, lab workers and people who clean and re-use surgical instruments should clean the medical equipment very carefully. Also, each tool should be double-checked before being used again. By doing this, it is possible to stop the spread of many health issues that medical equipment can cause.
Aside from that, hospitals should prefer to use high-quality surgical tools. These instruments last longer and don't rust or get damaged easily. Peak Surgicals stainless steel instruments made for surgery that don't need much care and last for years. Contact us right away if you want to add high-quality medical tools to your surgery kit.