34
7 PREPARATION BEFORE STERILIZATION
The purpose of packaging and wrapping items for sterilization is to provide an
effective barrier against contamination during storage, once the items have been
sterilized.
Instruments to be sterilized must be free from all residual matter, such as blood
or organic tissue. Instruments must also be dry and free from mineral deposits.
Such substances may cause damage to the instruments themselves or the
Sterilizer.
1. Clean instruments immediately after use to remove any residue. It is
recommended that all instruments be ultrasonically cleaned using
Tuttnauer's CLEAN AND SIMPLE enzymatic cleaning tablets or other
suitable solution.
2. After cleaning,
rinse instruments under tap water for 30 seconds and pat or
air dry to remove residual minerals. If your tap water has a high mineral
content, rinse a second time in a bath of distilled water to remove minerals.
3. Launder textile wraps prior to reuse, but do not use bleach.
4. Follow the instrument manufacturer’s instructions on the use of products for
cleaning and lubricating instruments that have been ultrasonically cleaned.
5. Be sure that instruments of dissimilar metals (stainless steel, carbon steel,
etc.) are separated. Carbon steel instruments should be bagged or placed on
autoclavable towels and not directly on stainless steel trays (mixing will
result in the oxidation of these metals).
6. Do not place materials to be sterilized against the chamber’s wall. Place the
material only on the tray or rack.
7. When using a paper / plastic bag, the plastic side should always be down.
8. Check the instructions of the item manufacturer as to the proper procedure
for sterilizing each item.
9. Items must be sterilized in an open position. Surfaces that are hidden
because the item is in a closed position will not be exposed to the steam and
will not be sterilized.
10. Place a sterilization indicator in each tray or inside each wrapped pack.
11. At least once a week use a biological spore test (Bacillus
Stearothermophilus) in any load to insure proper sterilization. (Be aware,
testing standards
may vary). Always follow the spore test manufacturer’s
instructions.
12. Make sure that all instruments remain apart during the sterilization cycle.
Surfaces that are hidden because items are covering other items will not be
exposed to the steam and will not be sterilized.
To Next Page
Loading...
