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[Disinfection of medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials]
Abstract:
In traumatological hospitals the medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials are contaminated by different microorganisms including pathogenic staphylococci, therefore they can serve as a factor of transmission of hospital-associated staphylococcal infections. Polymer materials used for medical orthopedic articles are not bactericidal. Mechanical cleaning with detergents does not provide sufficient elimination of microorganisms from orthopedic articles. This can be obtained by means of the treatment (immersion, wiping) with solutions of bactericidal preparations of various chemical orogin (chloramine, lithium hypochloride, chlorine, sulphochlorantine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, nitran). Medical orthopedic articles must be decontaminated before use. In the hospitals, disinfection of orthopedic articles should be performed at least once a day. Immersion of the articles made of porous materials into solutions of disinfectans with surface-active additives or into solutions of surface-active bactericides is a simple, readily available and effective method of treatment. Drawback of this method is that disinfectant solution partly remains in the pores and can be eliminated only by means of drying of the article in thermostate. Orthopedic articles of polyurethane foam can be decontaminated only by use of solutions of hydrogen peroxide and nirtan out of all the tested disinfectants. Medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials have endured repeated treatment with disinfectant solutions without any change of their physical and mechanical properties. The usability of these articles did not deteriorate.
Insights
Polymer orthopedic articles in hospitals harbor bacteria, risking infection spread. Effective disinfection requires chemical bactericidal solutions, not just detergents, to ensure patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Medical microbiology
- Materials science
- Infection control
Context:
- Polymer orthopedic articles in traumatological hospitals are frequently contaminated with microorganisms, including pathogenic staphylococci.
- These contaminated articles pose a risk for transmitting hospital-associated staphylococcal infections.
- Current mechanical cleaning methods with detergents are insufficient for complete microbial elimination.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various chemical bactericidal agents for disinfecting polymer orthopedic articles.
- To determine optimal disinfection protocols for medical orthopedic articles to prevent infection transmission.
- To assess the impact of repeated disinfectant treatments on the physical and mechanical properties of polymer orthopedic articles.
Summary:
- Polymer orthopedic articles are non-bactericidal and can harbor microorganisms, necessitating effective disinfection.
- Treatment with bactericidal solutions (e.g., chloramine, hydrogen peroxide) is crucial for eliminating microbial contamination.
- Disinfection methods like immersion in bactericidal solutions are effective, though porous materials may retain residues requiring drying.
- Polyurethane foam articles require specific disinfectants like hydrogen peroxide or nitran.
- Repeated disinfection does not compromise the physical, mechanical, or usability properties of these articles.
Impact:
- Establishes effective disinfection protocols for polymer orthopedic articles, reducing the risk of hospital-associated infections.
- Ensures the safety and usability of medical orthopedic devices through validated decontamination procedures.
- Provides evidence for the durability of polymer orthopedic materials under repeated chemical disinfection, supporting their continued use.