Infections and Allergies

Your Guide to Sterilization and Infection Control Products

 

Infection, in any clinical setting, can be a complication of any medical or surgical procedure. The medical devices or surgical instruments we use can be exposed to a number of patients on a daily basis. The sterilization or disinfection of these devices/instruments is critical in infection control. Infection can be the greatest risk during any medical procedure/surgery. In a worst-case scenario, an infection can lead to sepsis which can be potentially life-threatening. Finding the right disinfection and/or sterilization control products are vitally important and HPFY has all your infection control needs.

What Is Sterilization?

So how do we know if we are properly sterilizing equipment? What exactly is the definition of sterilized? Since most medical/surgical devices are made from materials that are heat stable, the use of heat as a sterilization source has been widely used but since 1950 there have been an increase in surgical devices that are made from materials such as plastic that require a low-temperature sterilization solution. In the last 15 years, a number of low temperatures sterilization systems have become available. These include:

• hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
• peracetic acid immersion
• ozone

Sterilization is defined by destroying all microorganisms on the surface of an item or in a fluid in order to prevent disease transmission associated with using that item. The use of inadequately sterilized equipment does present a risk of transmitting pathogens but because of the wide margin of safety associated with sterilization procedures used in medical facilities, documented transmission of pathogens is rare. This probability is referred to as the sterility assurance level or SAL. This is defined as the probability of a single viable microorganism occurring after a sterilization procedure. For many devices/instruments, medical sterilization equipment that utilizes ethylene oxide is the best option since it may be the only method that effectively sterilizers the equipment without damaging it. Approximately 50% of all medical sterilization utilizes this method.

Medical Sterilization and Infection Control

Sterilizing and disinfecting medical equipment and surgical instruments obviously helps prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient but it also protects medical professionals from these pathogens. Numerous outbreaks and infections got their start in hospital settings due to improperly sterilized equipment such as contaminated endoscopes. This can lead to an increase in newly emerging and multidrug-resistant pathogens in our medical and healthcare centers. Sterilization and infection control methods can use:

• Moist heat (steam)
• Dry heat
• Radiation
• Ethylene oxide
• Chlorine dioxide gas
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Vaporize hydrogen peroxide

Types of Sterilization

Unfortunately, right now there is no uniform definition or standard for the sterilization, disinfection, or cleaning of medical equipment. So how do we know what is the right procedure for sterilizing equipment we use? The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute has developed minimum inhibitory concentration testing based recommendations and they are currently standardized by the International Organization of Standardization. They include:

• Sterilization: This is a process of complete elimination/destruction of all forms of microbial life.
• Disinfection: The process of eliminating vegetative forms of microorganisms except bacterial spores of inanimate objects is defined as disinfection.
• Chemical sterilant: These are chemicals that are used for longer periods of time (3-12 hrs.) to destroy all forms of microbes. Examples include hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and glutaraldehyde.
• High-level disinfectant (HLD): Designed to be used for shorter periods of time, these disinfectants can kill microorganisms other than spores. These can include hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid.
• Intermediate level disinfectant (ILD): These are disinfectants that act against the pathogen mycobacterium tuberculosis and mainly used for noncritical items that are contaminated with body fluids such as blood.
• Low-level disinfectant (LLD): This class of disinfectant is designed to remove vegetative forms of bacteria, some fungi, and some enveloped viruses. These are typically used on noncritical items.

The type of equipment or procedure will dictate which of these sterilization/disinfecting techniques should be used. Sterilization could also include the use of germicides during the decontamination and cleaning process. There are several types of botanical cleaning devices, such as utensil washers/sanitizers, ultrasonic cleaners, washer-sanitizers, or even dishwashers that can clean and decontaminate most items. Implementation aids and compliance checklists you can utilize include:

1. Sterilization Competency: This checklist from the Association for Professionals In Infection Control and Epidemiology can facilitate teaching and ensure compliance with sterilization standards.
2. ISO Training Program: This program from the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) gives guidance for developing quality systems for sterile processing.
3. Immediate-Use Steam Sterilization Policy and Procedure Template: This basic sterilization policy/procedure is based on guidelines from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and practices from the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).
4. High Level Disinfection Policy and Procedure Template: These basic high level disinfection policies and procedures are based on recommended practices from AORN and should be adopted as needed for each facility.

Sterilization and disinfection of medical devices and surgical instruments is the front line and crucial for infection control in any medical or clinical setting. Healthcare workers and professionals couldn’t here to all sterilization or disinfection procedures for their patient safety, as well as their own.

Our Best Sanitization and Disinfection Products

References:

1. About Sterilizations
2. Sterilization and Disinfections
3. Sterilization for Medical Devicess
4. Infection control for healthcare providerss
5. Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection Toolkits

 

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