Cleaning Surgical Instruments
Surgical Instrument cleaners, cleaning, and rinsing clean.
Surgical Instruments cleaning prevents instrument corrosion.
Cleaning surgical instruments lowers surgical instrument costs.
It is critical that surgical instruments are cleaned properly to secure the safety of workers and the sterilization of surgical instruments prior to reuse. During the steps of inspection, sorting and packaging of devices, the unprotected reprocessing personnel can be at risk from a surgical instrument that has remained contaminated with microorganisms. Sterilization of inadequately cleaned surgical instruments is not possible. Cleaning Surgical Instruments is the prerequisite for sterilization.
The inadequate cleaning of bioburden, including blood, from surgical instruments may result in retained organisms. The Corrosion, rusting, and pitting of surgical instruments occurs when blood and debris are allowed to dry in or on surgical instruments. Cannulated or lumened surgical instruments may become obstructed from organic material. Irrigating surgical instruments with sterile water maintains hydration of bioburden on surgical instruments, facilitates the cleaning of surgical instruments, and prevents tissue damage. Saline causes deterioration of surgical instruments. Initial decontamination of surgical instruments should begin immediately after the completion of any surgical procedure. The cleaning of surgical instruments should be implemented as soon as possible after use. The application of a neutral pH enzymatic detergent will prove to be effective in speeding the cleaning of surgical instruments and lowering the overall handling costs or reprocessing surgical instruments. Surgical instruments are considered to be contaminated because the presence of pathogens is unknown at the time of surgery. The decontamination of surgical instruments is necessary for the protection of personnel and to prevent the transmission of pathogens. The ultrasonic cleaner may begin the process or a surgical instrument washer decontaminator may be used. The surgical instrument washer decontaminator cleans surgical instruments through multiple cycles, which include: cold water pre-wash, elevated temperature wash with a neutral pH detergent, final rinses with purified water, lubrication, and hot air drying.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments
Neutral pH, free-rinsing Surgical Instrument Cleaners are designed to provide critically clean Surgical Instruments with a residue free surface. This is especially important when cleaning micro surgical eye surgical instruments. Foaming Surgical Instrument Cleaners create a thick layer of foam on the surface of surgical instruments but once applied the Surgical Instrument Cleaners are non-foaming. Although foaming is valuable for hydrating debris and preventing encrustation on soiled eye surgical instruments faoming during the cleaning process is detrimental to the cleaning process and can present a risk to workers. This is especially important with Ultrasonic Cleaners and Automated Eye Surgical Instrument Washers. Surgical Instrument Cleaners without "foam control" require excessive rinsing. Residual foam can cause unwanted residue to be retained on the surface of the surgical instrument.
Presoaking with neutral pH enzymatic detergent surgical instrument cleaners will effectively remove debris and has proven to be an acceptable alternative to manually cleaning surgical instruments. During cleaning all surfaces of surgical instruments must be exposed to the cleaning process. The use of automated surgical instrument washers may reduce the risk of exposure to contaminants, improve turnaround time, and extend the life of surgical instruments. Delicate surgical instruments may be washed manually. Surgical instrument washer decontaminator racks have been designed to safely clean surgical instruments, including delicate surgical instruments and cannulated eye surgical instruments. These Washer Racks clean the surgical instruments inside and out thereby eliminating the need for manually cleaning cannulated surgical instruments. Particles of tissue, bone, and blood that are adhered to surgical instruments may resist being cleaning in an automated surgical instrument washer. This will cause corrosion to surgical instruments and will degrade the “passive Layer” of protection of surgical stainless steel. An enzymatic surgical instrument cleaner soak will be useful for these surgical instruments and other hard-to-clean surgical instruments. The Ultrasonic cleaning of dissimilar metals will cause and ion transfer, which will result in the etching and pitting of surgical instruments. Chrome-plated surgical instruments may be damaged by the mechanical vibrations of ultrasonic cleaning and cause flaking. The cleaning process removes lubricants from surgical instruments. The water soluble lubricants must replaced. Oily lubricants should not be used as the can inhibit steam penetration during sterilization.
Cleaning Surgical Instruments
For the cleaning of surgical instrument and scopes, neutral pH detergents with or without enzymes, and detergents containing antimicrobial substances may be used. The use of non-foaming neutral pH detergents is recommended. Foaming can inhibit fluid contact with the surfaces of surgical instruments and prevent a clear field of vision during the cleaning process presenting the risk of injury to reprocessing personnel. The surgical instrument cleaner selected should effectively loosen organic and non-organic material so that the flushing action of the surgical instrument washer will remove soil. Combination all-in-one Enzymatic Surgical Instrument Cleaners have been shown to be highly effective.
surfactants which reduce surface tension thus facilitating removal of debris
activated H2O2 hydrogen peroxide which effectively loosens debris at room temperature
protease (enzyme) which break protein debris into smaller, more soluble subunits
amylase (enzyme) which catalyses the breakdown of starch
lipase (enzyme) which breaks up fat-containing debris
quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanidine, alcohols
Cleaning Surgical Instruments
enzymatic detergents
neutral pH detergents
amine compounds
glucoprotamine
peracetic acid
hydrogen peroxide
When using Cleaning Surgical Instruments which contain Aldehydes, be aware that they denature and coagulate protein. Detergents based on amine compounds or glucoprotamine in combination with glutaraldehyde for disinfection should not be used to clean surgical instruments as chemical reactions may result and result in the formation of colored residues. These residues can appear to be corrosion or rust. The use of a neutral pH, high level surfactant based enzyme detergent instrument cleaner can be used to remove the corrosion, stains, and further prevent corrosion or stains on surgical instruments.
John Temple
Product Development
Surgical Instrument cleaners, cleaning, and rinsing clean.
Surgical Instruments cleaning prevents instrument corrosion.
Cleaning surgical instruments lowers surgical instrument costs.
