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Sterilization update 2003.

Jennifer A Harte¹, Chris H Miller

¹Professional Services, USAF Dental Investigation Service, Great Lakes, Illinois, USA.

Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995)

|January 12, 2005

Summary

Proper instrument processing, including cleaning, packaging, sterilization, and storage, is crucial for office infection control and patient safety. Correctly executed steps prevent recontamination and ensure microbial kill for safe patient care.

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Area of Science:

Healthcare
Infection Control
Medical Device Processing

Background:

Instrument processing is a critical component of healthcare infection control programs.
Ensuring patient safety relies on the correct execution of each step in instrument reprocessing.
Proper organization of the instrument processing area prevents mix-ups between contaminated and sterile items.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline the essential steps and considerations for effective instrument processing in an office setting.
To emphasize the importance of maintaining sterile integrity from processing to patient use.
To highlight the necessity of monitoring sterilization processes and addressing failures.

Main Methods:

Thorough cleaning of instruments using ultrasonic cleaners or washers to remove visible debris.
Packaging of cleaned instruments to maintain sterility until use.
Sterilization of packaged instruments via heat methods (steam, dry heat, unsaturated chemical vapor).
Handling and storage of sterile packages to preserve packaging integrity.
Monitoring sterilizer function through mechanical, chemical, and biological indicators, with record-keeping.

Main Results:

Adherence to a multi-step process ensures microbial inactivation on instruments.
Proper packaging and storage maintain the sterility of instruments between uses.
Continuous monitoring and documentation of sterilization processes validate effectiveness.
Promptly addressing sterilization failures is essential for patient safety.

Conclusions:

Correctly performed instrument processing is fundamental to preventing healthcare-associated infections.
A systematic approach encompassing cleaning, packaging, sterilization, and monitoring is vital.
Maintaining the integrity of the sterile barrier is paramount throughout the process.

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