Dental Sterilization Summary
Dental Sterilization. Mobile Phone 01797522136, 01987073965. Dental Sterilization is a process that removes, kills, or deactivates all kinds of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. This process is important for all kinds of surgeries.
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Dental Instruments are reusable. So, Dental Instruments should be sterilized after surgical use of it. Dental Sterilization is a practical work. All Dental Courses provide these practicals. Dental Courses are a Dental Training Course, a Diploma in Dental Assistant, a Diploma in Dental Technology, and a Diploma in Dental. All Courses are available at HRTD Medical Institute.
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1. Define Sterilization.
Sterilization is a process that removes, kills, or deactivates all kinds of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. This process is very important for all kinds of surgery.
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āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦāĻā§ āĻ
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2. What are the 3 types of sterilization?
Three primary methods of medical sterilization occur from high temperature/pressure and chemical processes.
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- Plasma Gas Sterilization (By Plasma Gas Sterilizers)
- Autoclave Sterilization ( Sterilization by Autoclaves)
- Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization (Sterilization by Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilizers)
3. Define Dental Sterilization.
Sterilization is an essential step in reprocessing reusable dental instruments that have become contaminated or are potentially contaminated with saliva blood or other biological fluids. This includes dental handpieces.
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4. Why Dental Sterilization is important?
Importance of Dental Sterilization (āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦ) :
Dental equipment sterilization protects dentists and patients. Sound dental sterilization practices in dentistry protect patients dentists and the whole team. They prevent the growth of bacteria on instruments and surfaces throughout the dental practice.
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Sterilization of Dental Instruments
1. Introduction-
Decontamination Into Practice is part of a national initiative to promote and standardize good decontamination practice in dental primary care.
Part 1: Cleaning of Dental Instrument(Published in 2007) deals with how to clean dental instruments thoroughly, including thermal disinfection using a washer disinfector, and advice about rinsing drying, and inspection of the instruments after cleaning.
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Part 2: Sterilization of Dental Instruments focuses on how to sterilize dental instruments after cleaning, using small steam sterilizers. It provides advice that is based on health and safety regulations and current technical guidance on sterilization within healthcare. It has been developed through consultation with various experts and end users.
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The advice in this document aims to be practical and achievable with the equipment most commonly used in the primary care dental practice environment. There are risks associated with the reuse of instruments. By adopting procedures consistent with this guidance in dental practices in Scotland, a very significant risk reduction and an improvement in decontamination and patient safety will be achieved. As new knowledge and technology develop it may be necessary to update this guidance.
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Supplementary information is provided in the introduction and appendices of the Decontamination Into Practice series. Many of the web links included can be accessed via the Decontamination section of the Scottish Dental website: www.scottishdental.org. Notably, the following Scottish Health Technical Memoranda (SHTM) has detailed information on how to choose, use, and validate equipment for decontamination processes.
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒā§āϰāĻ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āĻāύāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāϏ āϏāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻ āύā§āĻ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āĻŦ āϞāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āϏā§āĻāĻāĻŋāĻļ āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āĻŦāϏāĻžāĻāĻ: www.scottishdental.org-āĻāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻ ā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϏā§āϏ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§, āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύā§āĻā§āϤ āϏā§āĻāĻāĻŋāĻļ āĻšā§āϞāĻĨ āĻā§āĻāύāĻŋāĻā§āϝāĻžāϞ āĻŽā§āĻŽā§āϰāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻž (SHTM)-āĻ āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāύ, āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϏ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
- SHTM 2010 Sterilization
- SHTM 2030 Washer-disinfectors (includes ultrasonic cleaners )
As Sterilization is a highly technical activity, on occasion it may be necessary to consult an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination ) for specific advice concerning validation, periodic testing, maintenance, and operational management as defined in SHTM 2010. The Authorising Engineer (Decontamination) service for NHS Scotland is provided by Health Facilities Scotland (see Appendix 5 ). Note that at the time of writing, there are relatively few of these specialists to advise both secondary and primary care services.
āϝā§āĻšā§āϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āϤā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϰāϝā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻāϤ āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻĒ, āϏā§āĻšā§āϤ⧠SHTM 2010-āĻ āϏāĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŋāϤ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖ, āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž, āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻļāύāĻžāϞ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻāĻŽā§āύā§āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāύāĻ āĻāĻāύāĻ āĻ āύā§āĻŽā§āĻĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āĻļāϞ⧠(āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāύāĻāĻāĻāĻāϏ āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āĻĨā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻž āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻš āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ 5 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)āĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻā§āϝ āϝ⧠āϞā§āĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻāϝāĻŧ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāϰā§āϝāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻā§āĻāĻĻā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϤā§āϞāύāĻžāĻŽā§āϞāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŦ āĻāĻŽāĻ āĻāĻā§āύāĨ¤
Sterilization in the Dental Practice-
The decontamination of reusable dental instruments includes:
- cleaning (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž)
- rinsing ( āϧā§ā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž )
- drying (āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§)
- inspection for dryness, functionality, and cleanliness (āĻļā§āώā§āĻāϤāĻž, āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āĻāύā§āύāϤāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύ)
- wrapping before sterilization when using a vacuum sterilizer
(āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§)
- sterilization (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ)
- wrapping after sterilization when using a non-vacuum sterilizer (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāύ-āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§)
Sterilization is an essential step in the reprocessing of reusable dental instruments that have become contaminated or are potentially contaminated with saliva, blood, or other biological fluids. This includes dental handpieces. The aim of sterilization is to break the chain of potential cross-infection between patients by killing microorganisms, including spores. However, prion proteins are not fully deactivated by the sterilization process. Therefore effective instrument cleaning is particularly important to physically remove contamination, including prion proteins, prior to sterilization.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻšāϞ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝ āĻĒāĻĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āϝāĻž āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āĻā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻžāϞāĻž, āϰāĻā§āϤ ââāĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ āϤāϰāϞ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤāĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻšā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻĒāĻŋāϏāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϞāĻā§āώā§āϝ āĻš'āϞ āϏā§āĻĒā§āϰ āϏāĻš āĻ āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻšāϤā§āϝāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āϰā§āĻā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϝ āĻā§āϰāϏ-āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖā§āϰ āĻļā§āĻā§āĻāϞāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāĻāĻšā§āĻ, āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāύ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāϰā§āĻĒā§ āύāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āϤāĻžāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĻā§āϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāĨ¤
Sterilization using a steam sterilizer is recommended as the most efficient, cost-effective, and safe method of sterilizing dental instruments in primary care dental practices. The sterilization process must be validated to ensure that instruments are reliably and consistently sterilized using predetermined and reproducible conditions.
āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āϝāϤā§āύā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ⧠āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŦāĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ, āϏāĻžāĻļā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāĻĻ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦāύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āύāϰā§ā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻļāϰā§āϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤
To kill microorganisms, the instruments need to be exposed to steam at a specified temperature for a specific holding time. Although other options exist, the preferred temperature-pressure-time relationship for all small steam sterilizers is 134-137C, 2.1-2.25 bar gauge pressure for at least a 3-minute holding time.
āĻ āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦāĻā§ āĻŽā§āϰ⧠āĻĢā§āϞāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒā§āϰ āϏāĻāϏā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻļā§ āĻāϏāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋāĻ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ, āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāĻāύā§āĻĻā§āϰ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž-āĻāĻžāĻĒ-āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻ āĻšāϞ 134-137C, 2.1-2.25 āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻŽāĻĒāĻā§āώ⧠3-āĻŽāĻŋāύāĻŋāĻ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤
It is preferable to use reusable instruments that can withstand both an automated cleaning/disinfection process and steam sterilization or to use single-use instruments. Reusable instruments that cannot withstand steam sterilization must be decontaminated as recommended by the instrument manufacturer.
āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āϝāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ/āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻāϝāĻŧāĻ āϏāĻšā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§ā§ˇ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āϏāĻšā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻž āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļ āĻ āύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ⧎
Sterilization cycles in small steam sterilizers-
The sterilization cycle in a small steam sterilizer is a pre-programmed sequence of operating stages. There are three types of sterilization cycles, Type N, Type B, and Type S. These cycles differ in the manner in which air is removed, the types of load they can sterilize, and whether or not items can be
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻšāϞ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦ-āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽ āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĨ¤ āϤāĻŋāύ āϧāϰāύā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§, āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻāύ, āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻŦāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻāϏāĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻāĻā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϝā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻā§ āϧāϰāύā§āϰ āϞā§āĻĄ āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŋ āύāĻž āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
As some sterilizers can perform more than one type of sterilization cycle, it is more correct to refer to the type of cycle performed rather than the type of machine. However, the following terms are often used for convenience.
āϝā§āĻšā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻžāϧāĻŋāĻ āϧāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϤāĻžāĻ āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤ⧠āϏāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϧāϰāĻŖ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāϰāĻ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāĻāĻšā§āĻ, āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāĻĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻ āϏā§āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
- Non-vacuum sterilizer or type N sterilizer
- Vacuum sterilizer or type B sterilizer
This guidance describes the sterilization of unwrapped instruments in any type of sterilizer and wrapped instruments in a vacuum sterilizer, but not specifically a type S sterilizer. This is because the various makes of type S sterilizers differ in the type of load they can be used for and some may not be suitable for sterilizing wrapped instruments. Refer to the manufactures instructions for advice on the use of type S sterilizers.
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Sterilized versus sterile
Instruments are regarded as sterilized when they
have been cleaned, and inspected when wrapped before being sterilized in a sterilizer designed to process wrapped instruments (e. g a vacuum sterilizer) to maintain sterility these instruments must be stored with the wrapping intact until immediately before use
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or,
are bought as sterile single-use items and used in accordance with manufacturer instructions. (i. e. used immediately on removal from the sterile pack and used only once)
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Sterilization of Dental Handpieces-
There is currently no agreed method for the effective decontamination of dental handpieces. Research to assess the effectiveness of various methods of handpiece decontamination is ongoing. At present, it is best practice to follow manufactures instructions for handpiece cleaning. After cleaning it is then essential to sterilize handpieces in a steam sterilizer. Although the effectiveness of sterilization of the internal structures is unclear, processing in a sterilizer ensures that the external surfaces are sterilized and may also contribute to risk reduction through further thermal disinfection of the internal structures.
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- When purchasing new handpieces, ensure that they can withstand thermal disinfection and steam sterilization.
- Always process dental handpieces in a steam sterilizer as part of their decontamination. Replace existing handpieces that cannot withstand steam sterilization.
- Follow the handpiece manufacturer’s decontamination instructions.
- If necessary, contact the handpiece manufacturer to request clarification of their instructions.
- Lubricate handpieces before and/or after sterilization as recommended by the manufacturer. If lubrication is required both before and after sterilization, use separate designated cleaned only and sterilized canisters of lubricant labeled accordingly.
- Automated ‘handpiece cleaning machines’ can be used to lubricate handpieces. These machines are not validated for cleaning and do not disinfect. However, their use may prolong handpiece life and can be particularly useful if handpieces are cleaned in a washer disinfector. See also cleaning of dental instruments for advice on alternative methods for cleaning handpieces and care of handpieces after cleaning.
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- 2. Organising Sterilization Within the Decontamination Area-,./;
Purchasing a small steam sterilizer-
Before purchasing a small steam sterilizer, to ensure that it is suitable for your sure:
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§, āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤā§:
Specify clearly to the supplier the Type of loads that you intend to reprocess including:
āĻāĻĒāύāĻŋ āϝ⧠āϧāϰāύā§āϰ āϞā§āĻĄāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāύ āϤāĻž āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ:
- The quantities of instruments you are likely to reprocess per load and per day.
- āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāύāĻŋ āϝ⧠āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Ensure the sterilizer carries the CE mark. This indicates that the manufacturer claims compliance with the Essential requirements of the Medical Device Directive.
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Ensure that the sterilizer complies with British Standards (BS EN 13060) And SHTM 2010.
āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻļ āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰā§āĻĄ (BS EN 13060) āĻāĻŦāĻ SHTM 2010 āĻŽā§āύ⧠āĻāϞāĻā§ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Check with the supplier that-
- they can install the sterilizer to be consistent with SHTM 2010 requirements and provide certification of this.
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- they will provide written operating instructions nd training.
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āĨ¤
- they can guarantee an efficient repair service and response time can provide replacement equipment if necessary.
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻā§āώ āĻŽā§āϰāĻžāĻŽāϤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻžāύā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻš āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- they can supply a contract for maintenance and testing in accordance with the manufactures instruction.
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻ āύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻš āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- The Sterilizer performs a cycle that can be validated (see section 6).
- āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠(āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 6 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)āĨ¤
Ask the supplier to provide details in writing of –
āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻžāύāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŦāϞā§āύ-
- how many instrument trays, cassettes or rocks the sterilizer can process in one cycle.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻāĻ āĻāĻā§āϰ⧠āĻāϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻā§āϰā§, āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻļāĻŋāϞāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- how long a cycle takes.
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāϤāĻā§āώāĻŖ āϞāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤
- the number of different cycles the sterilizer can perform.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϏāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻāĻā§āϝāĻžāĨ¤
- dimensions and door orientation.
- āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻž āĻ āĻāĻŋāϝā§āĻāύāĨ¤
- a local servicing agent.
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧ āϏāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āύā§āĻāĨ¤
- the costs involved for installation , validation, periodic testing and maintenance.
- āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ, āĻŦā§āϧāϤāĻž, āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻāĨ¤
- periodic tests, including whether the machine can perform these tests automatically or whether the user can perform them,
- āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž, āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŋāύāĻž
- how long the machine is out of action foe maintenance and how many times per year.
- āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύāĻāĻŋ āĻāϤāĻā§āώāĻŖ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϰ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻāϰ⧠āĻāϤāĻŦāĻžāϰāĨ¤
- the electrical and/or plumbing requirements.
- āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϝā§āϤāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ/āĻ āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āύāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āϰāϤāĻžāύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŖāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧāϤāĻžāĨ¤
- any other specific requirements (e.g. water quality and quantity required per cycle)
- āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻā§āύ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧāϤāĻž (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŖāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ)
- whether the machine has a printer installed or an electronic data logger and if so whether this records temperature , pressure and sterilization hold time.
- āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞā§āĻāĻā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϤāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻŋ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŋāύāĻžāĨ¤
- whether other attachments or accessories are required and whether they have been included in the costs.
- āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāύā§āώāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻžāĨ¤
The resource requirements (e.g. costs and time for testing, level of staff training) will differ significantly depending on the type of sterilizer. In 20111, following an assessment of the current literature, the Scottish Health Technologies Group determined that there is a lack of evidence to conclude that the provision of benchtop steam vacuum sterilizers in primary care dental practices in Scotland would increase patient safety and thereby justify the cost (Advice statement 003/11, which will be subject to periodic review). While cost is a concern, it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions for both sterilizer and instruments to inform your decisions about the purchase of a small steam sterilizer.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻĒāϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧāϤāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āϏā§āϤāϰ) āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϞāĻžāĻĻāĻž āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ 20111 āϏāĻžāϞā§, āĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŽāĻžāύ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āϞā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ, āϏā§āĻāĻāĻŋāĻļ āĻšā§āϞāĻĨ āĻā§āĻāύā§āϞāĻāĻŋāϏ āĻā§āϰā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āϝ⧠āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āϝāϤā§āύā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ⧠āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻāĻāĻĒ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻžāύ āϰā§āĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāϰ āĻĢāϞ⧠āĻāϰāĻāĻā§ āύā§āϝāĻžāϝā§āϝāϤāĻž āĻĻā§āĻŦā§ ( āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āϤāĻŋ 003/11, āϝāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϞā§āĻāύāĻž āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āĻā§āώ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§)āĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĻā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻāĻžāύāĻžāϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻāĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāϰāĻŖ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝāĨ¤
The NHSScotland National Contract for Decontamination Equipment-
āĻāύāĻāĻāĻāĻāϏāĻāϏāĻā§āĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄ āύā§āϝāĻžāĻļāύāĻžāϞ āĻāύā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻā§āĻ āĻĢāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻĒāĻŽā§āύā§āĻ-
NHSScotland has a national contract for local decontamination unit (LDU) equipment that was created following a period of equipment testing. The contract includes the purchase price of several small steam sterilizers and gives details of the additional costs for installation, commissioning, testing, and maintenance. A full support package which includes both the equipment and the additional costs is also listed.
NHSScotland āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āĻāĻāύāĻŋāĻ (LDU) āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϝāĻž āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āϤā§āϰāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻā§āϰāϝāĻŧ āĻŽā§āϞā§āϝ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ, āĻāĻŽāĻŋāĻļāύāĻŋāĻ, āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻ āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖ āĻĻā§āϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϏāĻŽāϰā§āĻĨāύ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻ āϝāĻž āĻāĻāϝāĻŧ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻāĻ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Note that the current national contract does not include any type of S sterilizer. Further items are added periodically and, therefore, it is important to check the contract for the latest information.
āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻā§āϝ āϝ⧠āĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāĻžāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻā§āύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāϰ S āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽā§ āϝā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤāĻžāĻ, āϏāϰā§āĻŦāĻļā§āώ āϤāĻĨā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāĨ¤
All GDC registered dentists in Scotland can view the contract at the NHS National procurement website, CDSnet: www.scotcat.nhs.uk/cdsnet/cdsnet.asp (see Appendix 6 for further details.)
āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ GDC āύāĻŋāĻŦāύā§āϧāĻŋāϤ āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āĻĄāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻžāϰāϰāĻž NHS āĻāĻžāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻšā§āϰ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āĻŦāϏāĻžāĻāĻ, CDSnet: www.scotcat.nhs.uk/cdsnet/cdsnet.asp-āĻ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύ (āĻāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ 6 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤)
Health Facilities Scotland and the chief Dental Officer recommend that all decontamination equipment (ultrasonic cleaners, washer disinfectors, and sterilizers) is purchased using the national contract as a guide. A sterilizer purchased via the contract will meet the specifications included in the points listed in Section. Provided that the additional installation commissioning, testing, and maintenance package is also purchased. The supplies are listed on CDSnet and need to be contacted directly to purchase equipment.
āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āĻĨā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻž āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻ āĻĢāĻŋāϏāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ (āĻāϞā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāϏāύāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āϞāĻŋāύāĻžāϰ, āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻļāĻžāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāϏāĻāύāĻĢā§āĻā§āĻāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ) āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĄ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻā§āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻā§āύāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻ āύā§āĻā§āĻā§āĻĻā§ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒāϝāĻŧā§āύā§āĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻŦā§ā§ˇ āĻļāϰā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āϝ⧠āĻ āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ āĻāĻŽāĻŋāĻļāύāĻŋāĻ, āĻā§āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻ āĻā§āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻā§āϞāĻŋ CDSnet-āĻ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāϰāĻžāϏāϰāĻŋ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Consult the LDU equipment contract at www.scotcat.scot.nhs.uk/cdsnet/cdsnet.asp to inform purchasing decisions and consider quoting it when purchasing new equipment.
āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻāĻžāύāĻžāϤ⧠www.scotcat.scot.nhs.uk/cdsnet/cdsnet.asp-āĻ LDU āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āύāĻŋāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāϤā§āύ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĻā§āϧā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻāύāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Failure to comply with the manufacturer’s instructions can adversely affect the safety of an instrument and affect product guarantees on warranties.
āĻāϤā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻŽā§āύ⧠āĻāϞāϤ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāϰā§āĻĨāϤāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻžāĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāϰā§āĻĒāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰā§āύā§āĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻŖā§āϝā§āϰ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻžāύā§āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§
Check the manufacturer’s instructions before purchase to ensure that instruments are suitable, that is:
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ, āĻ āϰā§āĻĨāĻžā§:
- they are good qualities and CE marked.
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻžāϞ āĻā§āĻŖāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ CE āĻāĻŋāĻšā§āύāĻŋāϤ.
- they can withstand the temperature and pressure applied during the steam sterilization cycle used in your sterilization.
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āϏāĻšā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- Whether there is a limit to how many times an instrument can be sterilized (e. g. electrosurgery tips).
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻāϤāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŽāĻž āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻāϞā§āĻā§āĻā§āϰā§āϏāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāĻĒāϏ)āĨ¤
If there are reusable instruments in use that cannot withstand sterilization, source alternatives that can be sterilized or that are single-use.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āϝāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻž, āĻā§āϏ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒ āϝāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āϝāĻž āĻāĻāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĨ¤
Staff Roles-
Appendix 4 details the personnel necessary for validation and quality assurance. This includes both staff in the practice and external personnel.
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ 4 āĻŦā§āϧāϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻŖāĻŽāĻžāύ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖāĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§āϰ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻšāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻāϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻāϝāĻŧāĻ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĨ¤
Appoint a user as the named person responsible for appointing operators and ensuring their competence, and for the day to day management of each sterilize, its use, maintenance and testing and relevant documentation. In a dental practice, this role could be delegated to a suitably trained member of staff, for example, a senior dental nurse or practice manager.
āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāϰ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĻāĻā§āώāϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ, āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ, āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϏāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĄāĻā§āĻŽā§āύā§āĻā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻĻā§āύāύā§āĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āύāĻžāĻŽāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§, āĻāĻ āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāύ āϏāĻĻāϏā§āϝāĻā§ āĻ āϰā§āĻĒāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāϏā§āĻŦāϰā§āĻĒ, āĻāĻāĻāύ āϏāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāϰ āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āύāĻžāϰā§āϏ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻāĨ¤
Appoint Operators to operate each sterilize, including performing basic housekeeping duties.
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāϰ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ, āϝāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻā§āĻšāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŽā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ āĻĒāĻžāϞāύ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
Staff Training for Sterilization-
It is a requirement of the provision and use of work Equipment Regulations 1998,Glennie Technical Requirements, HPS LDU Guidance and MDA DB 2002(06) that all staff manage, supervise or operate sterilizer are trained in their use and maintenance. The practice owner (Management refer to Appendix 4 for personnel) is responsible for ensuring that systems are in place for ongoing staff training.
āĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ āϰā§āĻā§āϞā§āĻļāύ 1998, āĻā§āϞā§āύāĻŋ āĻā§āĻāύāĻŋāĻā§āϝāĻžāϞ āϰāĻŋāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰāĻŽā§āύā§āĻāϏ, HPS LDU āĻāĻžāĻāĻĄā§āύā§āϏ āĻāĻŦāĻ MDA DB 2002(06) āĻāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻžāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧāϤāĻž āϝ⧠āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āϏā§āĻāĻžāĻĢ āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻ (āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύāĻž āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ 4 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ) āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧā§āĨ¤
Ensure all members of the dental team who undertake decontamination of dental instruments are competent, supervised and trained. For sterilization the should-
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŋāĻŽā§āϰ āϏāĻāϞ āϏāĻĻāϏā§āϝ āϝāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĄā§āύā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻāύā§āϏāĻā§āϰā§āĻŽā§āύā§āĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĻāĻā§āώ, āϤāϤā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŦāϧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻŋāϤ-
- understand the procedures during the guidance.
- āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϞā§āύ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤
- know what kind of sterilizers are in the practice and what type of cycle is used in each sterilizer.
- āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ⧠āĻā§ āϧāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§ āĻā§ āϧāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻž āĻāĻžāύā§āύāĨ¤
- know how to prepare the range of instruments used in practice correctly for sterilization, including new instruments, loading configuration, lubrication, inspection, wrapping, labelling.
- āύāϤā§āύ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ, āϞā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻ āĻāύāĻĢāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻļāύ, āϤā§āϞāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύ, āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§, āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āϏāĻš āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϏāϰ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻž āĻāĻžāύā§āύāĨ¤
- know how to store instruments after sterilization.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻž āĻāĻžāύā§āύāĨ¤
Refer to section of cleaning of dental instruments for general information about staff training, Hepatitis B vaccination and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŖ, āĻšā§āĻĒāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāϏ āĻŦāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻāϤ āϏā§āϰāĻā§āώāĻžāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽ (āĻĒāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋāĻ) āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϤāĻĨā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§āύāĨ¤
Sterilization Workflow-
The decontamination process is carried out as a dirty-to-clean workflow within the Local Decontamination Unit (LDU). SHPN 13 Part 2 provides guidance on LDU design, including workflow.
āϞā§āĻāĻžāϞ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ āĻāĻāύāĻŋāĻ (LDU)-āĻāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āĻāύā§āύ āĻāϰā§āĻŽāĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻžāĻš āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύā§āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ SHPN 13 āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻ 2 āĻāϰā§āĻŽāĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻžāĻš āϏāĻš LDU āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāύā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
After instrument cleaning, ensure the decontamination area has the following items for sterilization arranged in the order listed-
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰā§, āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§-
- an area for loading unwrapped instruments into trays or cassettes for sterilization or for pre-sterilization wrapping or bagging instruments if using a vacuum sterilizer.
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϞ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋ-āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻā§āĻļāύ āϰâā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻā§āϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāĨ¤
- a steam sterilizer.
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- an area for set down and cooling following removal from the sterilizer and for wrapping or bagging instruments that have been sterilized unwrapped.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āϏā§āĻ āĻĄāĻžāĻāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻļā§āϤāϞ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϝā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
- a dedicated, clean, rigid, labelled box with a lid to transport instruments to the clinical or storage area safety and securely.
- āĻā§āϞāĻŋāύāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāĻĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻšāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĄā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§āĻĄ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āĻ āύāĻŽāύā§āϝāĻŧ, āĻĸāĻžāĻāύāĻžāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϏāĨ¤
Ensure instrument storage is clean, orderly, enclosed (e. g. in trays, cassettes or pouches) and is not on open shelving.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āϏā§āĻļā§āĻā§āĻāϞ, āĻāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻā§āϰā§, āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻāĻā§) āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āϞāĻž āϤāĻžāĻ āύāĻžāĨ¤
- Ideally, instruments are stored in an area that is separate from the decontamination unit, well-lit, secure, dry and away from direct sunlight.
- āĻāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāĻāĻžāĻŦā§, āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻž āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻĨāĻ, āĻāĻžāϞāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϞā§āĻāĻŋāϤ, āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāĻĻ, āĻļā§āώā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāϰāĻžāϏāϰāĻŋ āϏā§āϰā§āϝāĻžāϞā§āĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĻā§āϰā§āĨ¤
Ensure storage is arranged so that sterile and sterilized instruments cannot be confused.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻšāϤ⧠āύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
3. Important Factors in Effective Sterilization-
3.1 Health & Safety Requirements for Small Steam Sterilizers
āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āĻĨā§āϝ āĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧāϤāĻž-
The particular hazards associated with the use of steam sterilizers include burns from steam or hot metalwork (including instruments), explosive displacement of a door if not properly secured, and infection resulting from inadequate instrument processing. The Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000(PSSR) covers the installation and use of steam sterilizers. As a legal requirement, each sterilizer must have-
āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϰāĻŽ āϧāĻžāϤāĻŦ āĻāĻžāĻ (āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻš) āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻž, āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏā§āϰāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āύāĻž āĻšāϞ⧠āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āĻĢā§āϰāĻ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύāĻā§āϝā§āϤāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻĢāϞ⧠āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖāĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰā§āϏāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āϏā§āĻĢāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻā§āϞā§āĻļāύāϏ 2000(PSSR) āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ āĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāύāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§-
- a written scheme of examination.
- āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽāĨ¤
- a periodic examination of the pressure system.
- āĻāĻžāĻĒ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĨ¤
- third-party liability insurance.
- āϤā§āϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻĒāĻā§āώā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āĻŽāĻžāĨ¤
- a record of repairs and maintenance of the pressure system.
- āĻāĻžāĻĒ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽā§āϰ āĻŽā§āϰāĻžāĻŽāϤ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĨ¤
Following installation and before use, obtain a written examination scheme for each sterilizer from the manufacturer, supplier, or insurer that has been prepared by a competent person (pressure vessels).
āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻ, āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āĻŽāĻžāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āύāĻŋāύ āϝāĻž āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĻāĻā§āώ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ (āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ) āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Arrange for a competent person (pressure vessels) to conduct safety examinations in accordance with the written scheme of examination for the sterilizer, and retain a certificate as proof of each inspection. This examination is in addition to regular and routine maintenance.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĻāĻā§āώ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ (āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ) āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻļāĻāϏāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϰ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāĻāĨ¤
obtain third-party liability insurance that specifically covers risks associated with the operation of pressure vessels. Such as risks may not be covered by practice insurance.
āϤā§āϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻĒāĻā§āώā§āϰ āĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻž āĻŦā§āĻŽāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻŦāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻā§āĻāĻāĻŋāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ āĻŦā§āĻŽāĻž āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻĻāĻŋāϤ āύāĻžāĻ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§.
To comply with legislation, keep records of all examinations and repairs to the pressure system.
āĻāĻāύ āĻŽā§āύ⧠āĻāϞāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŽā§āϰāĻžāĻŽāϤā§āϰ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύāĨ¤
Your insurance company may provide details of competent persons (pressure vessels) or advice can be sought from an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination). The HSE leaflet Written schemes of examination provide further information. The competent person (pressure vessels) can also advise how frequently the safety examination is required for each sterilizer (typically at least once every 14 months).
āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āĻŽāĻž āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻĻā§āϰ (āĻāĻžāĻĒā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ) āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻŽā§āĻĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āĻļāϞā§āϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻāĻžāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ HSE āϞāĻŋāĻĢāϞā§āĻ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āĻāϰāĻ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ (āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ 14 āĻŽāĻžāϏ⧠āĻ āύā§āϤāϤ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ) āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāϤ āĻāύ āĻāύ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āϤāĻžāĻ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ (āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻŦāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ) āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤
3.2 Installation and Validation of Small Steam Sterilizers
āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϧāϤāĻž-
To ensure that a small steam sterilizer reliably sterilizes each load, it is particularly important that the sterilizer is installed and commissioned correctly and that the sterilization process is validated for the specified load.
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻāϰāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϞā§āĻĄāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰ⧠āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϝ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϧ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
Ensure that your supplier installs and commissions a new sterilizer and that a test personal (sterilizer) validates the sterilization process before use as specified in SHTM 2010 and MDA OB 2002 (06). Keep all records in the sterilizer logbook.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāϤā§āύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻŽāĻŋāĻļāύ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ SHTM 2010 āĻāĻŦāĻ MDA OB 2002 (06) āϤ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϏā§āĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻāϤ (āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ) āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰā§ā§ˇ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύ⧎
3.3 Testing and Maintenance of Small Steam Sterilizers
āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ-
Ensure that each sterilizer 8s subject to a documented, planned maintenance program and periodic testing schedule, for example, through a service contract with your supplier or test person, or maintenance person.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ 8āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻĨāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§āϤ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻŋāϤ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāϏā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āĻā§āώā§, āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāϏā§āĻŦāϰā§āĻĒ, āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ā§ˇ
Record in the logbook details of all testing and maintenance carried out on each sterilizer.
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
3.4 Cleanliness of Instruments’
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āĻāύā§āύāϤāĻž-
Contamination of instruments with residual tissue, body fluids, oil, or other deposits such as cement can prevent the direct contact between the steam and surfaces of the instruments that is necessary for effective sterilization. Also, any deposits left on instruments before sterilization might become fixed to the instruments making them more difficult to remove later. These deposits can also enter the water in the sterilizer reservoir and encourage the growth of microorganisms or accumulation of endotoxins, which could contaminate instruments processed subsequently.
āĻ āĻŦāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāĻŋāϏā§āϝā§, āĻļāϰā§āϰā§āϰ āϤāϰāϞ, āϤā§āϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻāĻŽāĻžāύāϤ āϝā§āĻŽāύ āϏāĻŋāĻŽā§āύā§āĻ āϏāĻš āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ ā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏāϰāĻžāϏāϰāĻŋ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āϰā§āϧ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āϝ⧠āĻā§āύāĻ āĻāĻŽāĻžāύāϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻ āĻŋāύ āĻāϰ⧠āϤā§āϞā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻāĻŽāĻžāύāϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϞāĻžāϧāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāϞ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāύā§āĻĄā§āĻāĻā§āϏāĻŋāύ āĻāĻŽāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϝāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŦāϰā§āϤā§āϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ Ensure all items to be sterilized are clean and dry before placing them in the sterilizer chamber (see cleaning of dental instruments). āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻļā§āĻāύ⧠āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻĻāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)āĨ¤
3.5 Loading of Instruments
Air removal might be impeded if instruments are not loaded correctly and steam may not contact every surface of every instrument. This steam contact is essential for sterilization to occur.
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻšāĻā§āĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āύāĻž āĻšāϞ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻžāĻā§āϰāϏā§āϤ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ ā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒā§āϰ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝāĨ¤
- Load the sterilizer according to the manufacturers instructions and as specified at validation.
- āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
- Ensure instruments do not overlap.
- āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻžāϰāϞā§āϝāĻžāĻĒ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- open hinged instruments to expose all of the surface area to the steam.
- āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ ā§āϰ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāύā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āϞā§āύāĨ¤
- Place instruments on perforated trays, cassettes or racks that have been validated for use with the selected sterilization cycle.
- āĻāĻŋāĻĻā§āϰāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻā§āϰā§, āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āϰā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύ āϝāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻŋāϤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦā§āϧ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
- Do not overload the sterilizer chamber or individual trays or containers with instruments.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āĻĨāĻ āĻā§āϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻš āĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻžāϰāϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
3.6 Water for use in Steam Sterilizers-
Water used for sterilization must be essentially free of chemicals and endotoxins. In MDA DB2002(06), the MHRA recommends sterile water for irrigation BP though other forms of purified water of equivalent specification can be used, for example, certain freshly drawn reverse osmosis (RO) OR freshly prepared distilled waters. The use of tap water is not acceptable as this can lead to a build-up of contaminants that can be harmful and/or might damage the sterilizer.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻāϞ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āϰāĻžāϏāĻžāϝāĻŧāύāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāύā§āĻĄā§āĻāĻā§āϏāĻŋāύ āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ MDA DB2002(06), MHRA āϏā§āĻ BP-āĻāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϞā§āϰ āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāĻĻāĻŋāĻ āϏāĻŽāϤā§āϞā§āϝ āϏā§āĻĒā§āϏāĻŋāĻĢāĻŋāĻā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻĻā§āϧ āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝ āϰā§āĻĒ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāϏā§āĻŦāϰā§āĻĒ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āϏāϤā§āĻ āĻāĻžāύāĻž āϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰā§āϏ āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āϏāĻŋāϏ (RO) āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻĻā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤ āĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋāϤ āĻāϞāĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āύāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ āĻĢāϞ⧠āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāĻĻāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϤā§āϰāĻŋ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰāĻ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ/āĻ āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻā§ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
- Fill the empty sterilizer reservoir with water of suitable quality. Do not use tap water.
- āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāϞ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϞāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻāϞ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
- Change the water at least once per day or sooner if the chamber water is visibly coloured or cloudy. Record when each water change is done.
- āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāϞ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰāĻāĻŋāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻž āĻšāϞ⧠āĻĻāĻŋāύ⧠āĻ āύā§āϤāϤ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āϤāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāϞ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϞ⧠āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- If considering purchasing a water purification system to produce distilled or reverse osmosis water within the practice, first seek advice from an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination).
- āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāϰā§āϤ āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āϏāĻŋāϏ āĻāϞ āĻāϤā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāϞ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļā§āϧāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻāύāĻž āĻāϰāϞā§, āĻĒā§āϰāĻĨāĻŽā§ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻ āĻĨāϰāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰā§āϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āύāĻŋāύāĨ¤
3.7 Sterilizer Logbook and Record Keeping-
A logbook is required for each sterilizer as a permanent record of the complete history of the sterilizer and could provide useful evidence in the event of an adverse incident. Alternative examples of pages of a sterilizer logbook are given in Appendix 7 and in MDA DB2002(06). Logbooks can also be purchased from Health Facilities Scotland.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāϤāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϏā§āϰ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϞ āĻāĻāύāĻžāϰ āĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻš āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒ āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ 7 āĻāĻŦāĻ MDA DB2002(06) āĻ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ā§ˇ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϏā§āĻĨā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāĻŋāϧāĻž āϏā§āĻāĻāϞā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄ āĻĨā§āĻā§āĻ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āύāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§ā§ˇ
Keep the logbook near the sterilizer so that routine information can be recorded easily.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āϏāĻšāĻā§āĻ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Including in the logbook-
- installation, commissioning and validation tests and checks.
- āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞā§āĻļāύ, āĻāĻŽāĻŋāĻļāύāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϧāϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻāĨ¤
- the written scheme of examination under the pressure systems safety regulations 2000 (PSSR) (See Section3.1)
- āĻĒā§āϰā§āϏāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āϏā§āĻĢāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻā§āϞā§āĻļāύāϏ 2000 (PSSR) āĻāϰ āĻ āϧā§āύ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ (āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 3.1 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)
- a record of inspection under the scheme of examination.
- āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒā§āϰ āĻ āϧā§āύ⧠āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĨ¤
- results of periodic testing
- āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ
- a record of any cycle that fails and action taken, including what was done with the unsterilized load.
- āϝā§āĻā§āύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϝāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāϰā§āĻĨ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻšā§āϤ āĻĒāĻĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ, āϝāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ,
- a record of all maintenance, repairs or medifications.
- āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ, āĻŽā§āϰāĻžāĻŽāϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻĢāĻŋāĻā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĨ¤
Retain the logbook for inspection.
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύāĨ¤
4. Sterilization Procedure
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ-
The key consideration when determining sterilization operating procedures is the type of sterilizer and sterilization cycle that is being used because this dictates whether or not the instruments can be wrapped before sterilization if using a vacuum (or compatible Type S )sterilizer designed for wrapped instruments.
āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻŽā§āϞ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻā§āϝ āĻšāϞ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϧāϰāύ āϝāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āϝ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ (āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āĻāϏā§āϝāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻāϏ) āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϞ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŋ āύāĻžāĨ¤ Some procedures are common to all sterilizers and are described in 4.1 specific procedures for sterilizing unwrapped and wrapped instruments are then described in section 4.2 and 4.3 respectively. āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻŦ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ 4.1 āϤ⧠āĻŦāϰā§āĻŖāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ 4.1 āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϝāĻĨāĻžāĻā§āϰāĻŽā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 4.2 āĻāĻŦāĻ 4.3 āĻ āĻŦāϰā§āĻŖāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
4.1 General Operation of Steam Sterilizers-
āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻļāύ-
Having in place a written sterilization procedure that is based on the manufacturer’s instructions, including loading, choice of sterilization cycle, procedure after sterilization, record keeping, and ensuring that all staff follow this written procedure.
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϰ āĻāĻĒāϰ āĻāĻŋāϤā§āϤāĻŋ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāϤ⧠āϞā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻ, āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒāĻāύā§āĻĻ, āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āϰāĻž āĻāĻ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
On each day that the sterilizer is used, carry out the daily housekeeping checks and daily tests.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻšāĻžāĻāϏāĻāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰā§āύ
Ensure that maintenance and testing records for all sterilizers in use are up to date and satisfactory.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻĒ āĻā§ āĻĄā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ
4.1.1 Before Sterilization-
- Change you gloves and plastic apron before handling the cleaned instruments, remembering to wash your hands or use alcohol rub on visibly clean hands before putting on new gloves.
- āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϞāĻžāĻāϏ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϞāĻžāϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻ ā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§āϰā§āύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāϰā§āύ, āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻšāĻžāϤ āϧā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŽāύ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āύ āĻŦāĻž āύāϤā§āύ āĻā§āϞāĻžāĻāϏ āĻĒāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻšāĻžāϤ⧠āĻ ā§āϝāĻžāϞāĻā§āĻšāϞ āĻāώā§āύāĨ¤
- If moving cleaned instruments to a sterilizer in another room , use a dedicated ,clean, rigid, labelled container with a lid.
- āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻāϰ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύāĻžāύā§āϤāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĸāĻžāĻāύāĻž āϏāĻš āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϤā§āϏāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āĻāĻ ā§āϰ, āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ
- Transfer instruments to the sterilizer as soon as possible after cleaning , thermal disinfection if a washer disinfector is used , drying and inspection for cleanliness and functionality. Only wrap instruments before sterilization if using vacuum sterilizer.
- āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āϝāϤ āϤāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύāĻžāύā§āϤāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻļāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āϤāĻžāĻĒ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ, āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āĻāύā§āύāϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύāĨ¤ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϞ⧠āĻļā§āϧā§āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āĨ¤
- Load instruments correctly .For specific advice about unwrapped instruments refer to 4.2 and 4.3.
- āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ 4.2 āĻāĻŦāĻ 4.3 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤
- Check that there is sufficient water in the reservoir
- āĻāϞāĻžāϧāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻāϞ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ
- Select and start that sterilization cycle.
- āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- If instruments are not to be sterilized at the end of the day, clean and dry them, clearly label them as unsafe for handling or use, and reprocess them through the full decontamination cycle the next working day.
- āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āώ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻŦā§ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āύāĻŋāύ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāĻĻ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻĻāĻŋāĻŦāϏ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ⧎
4.1.2 After Sterilization-
Check the sterilizer to indicate that the cycle was satisfactory.
āĻāĻā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻāĻŋāϞ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Using the printout or data logger fitted to the sterilizer, confirm that the required temperature usually (134-137) was held for at least 3 minutes and if recorded, that the required pressure usually (2.1-2.25 bar)was attained during the cycle.
āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ (134-137) āĻāĻŽāĻĒāĻā§āώ⧠3 āĻŽāĻŋāύāĻŋāĻ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ (2.1-2.25 āĻŦāĻžāϰ) āĻ āϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
- In the absence of a printer or data logger that provides this information, manual monitoring and recording of each cycle is necessary. An Authorising Engineer (Decontamination) can advise on a suitable procedure. Upgrade to a machine with a suitable printer or data logger as soon as possible.
- āĻāĻ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϤāĻŋāϤā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻ āĻĨāϰāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāϤ āϤāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻš āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāĻā§āϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Record that the cycle was satisfactory (e.g., sign the printout and retain it as a record).
āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāĻā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻāĻŋāϞ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻā§ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āώāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻā§āύ)āĨ¤
- Some practices choose to keep an electronic record by scanning signed printouts in batches, thus avoiding the need to store large quantities of printouts.
- āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āώāϰāĻŋāϤ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāύ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϞā§āĻāĻā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻŦā§āĻā§ āύā§āϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻŖā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Use special tray lifters or heatproof gloves to carefully unload the sterilizer.
āϏāĻžāĻŦāϧāĻžāύ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώ āĻā§āϰ⧠āϞāĻŋāĻĢāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻšāĻŋāĻāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻĢ āĻā§āϞāĻžāĻāϏ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
For instruments sterilized wrapped, check each package is satisfactory (as detailed in section 4.3.1)
āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 4.3.1 āĻ)
If any of the above cycle conditions is not achieved or there is a problem with instruments unloaded from the sterilizer, ensure that the details are recorded, notify the user, and reprocess the instruments from the start of the decontamination cycle (cleaning, thermal disinfection if available, and sterilization).
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻļāϰā§āϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻā§āύāĻāĻŋ āĻ āϰā§āĻāύ āύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāύāϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§, āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻā§ āĻ āĻŦāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āϤāĻžāĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧ, āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ)āĨ¤
4.1.3 At the end of the day
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to drain and clean the chamber and reservoir at the end of each day and leave the day.
āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āώ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻāĻŋāϰ āĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻļā§āώ⧠āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāϞāĻžāĻļāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāĻļāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
4.2 Unwrapped Instruments (All Sterilizers)
āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ (āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§)-
If using a non-vacuum sterilizer, the instruments must be processed unwrapped.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāύ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻŦā§āϤ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Solid instruments can be sterilized unwrapped in any type of sterilizer. The sterilization of hollow or lumened instruments can only be achieved if they are cleaned effectively and a vacuum (or a compatible Type S) sterilizer is used.
āϏāϞāĻŋāĻĄ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϝā§āĻā§āύ āϧāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϞā§āĻŽā§āύāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻā§āĻŦāϞ āϤāĻāύāĻ āĻ āϰā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ (āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āĻāϏā§āϝāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻāϏ) āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ⧎
When processing instruments using a non-vacuum sterilizer, ensure that the instruments are unwrapped.
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāύ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āϞāĻž āĻāĻā§āĨ¤
- Note that the sterilization of the sterilization of the internal surfaces of instruments with lumens processed in a non-vacuum sterilizer cannot be guaranteed.
- āύā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāύ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻā§āϤ āϞā§āĻŽā§āύ āϏāĻš āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻ āĻā§āϝāύā§āϤāϰā§āĻŖ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ āĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻžāύā§āĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύāĻžāĨ¤
- Refer to section 1.4 regarding the sterilization of dental handpieces.
- āĻĻāĻžāĻāϤā§āϰ āĻšā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻĒāĻŋāϏ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 1.4 āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§āύāĨ¤
If possible, process instruments using sterilization cycle with a drying stage.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻš āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻĒāĻžāϤāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
When using a vacuum sterilizer, if the load includes hollow or lumened instruments, ensure that a drying stage is included.
āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϞā§āĻŽā§āύāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻĒāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϞā§āĻŽā§āύāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
4.2.1 Handling and Storage of Unwrapped Instruments Immediately After Sterilization-
Sterilization (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ) āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻĒāϰāĻ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻšā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāϞāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ-
Instruments that have been sterilized unwrapped are designated as ‘sterilized only’. It is currently acceptable for instruments sterilized unwrapped to be kept for later use .However, they must be-
āϝ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϰâā§āϝāĻžāĻĒ āĻāϰ⧠Sterilization (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ) āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ 'āĻļā§āϧ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ' āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŽāύā§āύā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŽāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻžāύā§āώāĻā§āĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāϝā§āĻā§āϝ āϝāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŦāϰā§āϤā§āϤ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
- dry-it is very important that instruments are completely dry when stored because dampness encourages growth of microorganisms and corrosion of instruments.
- āĻļā§āώā§āĻ- āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āϤā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϝ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāϰā§āĻĒā§ āĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāϤāϏā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻ āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻā§āώāϝāĻŧāĻā§ āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
- Protected from contamination
- āĻĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏā§āϰāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ
- Stored correctly -note that storage of loose unwrapped instruments is unacceptable.
- āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ – āĻŽāύ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāϞāĻāĻž āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ āĻ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĨ¤
Clean hands and put on clean gloves and a clean apron before handling unwrapped instruments that have been removed from the sterilizer. Take additional precautions if the instruments are still hot.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏāϰāĻžāύ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻšāĻžāϤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϞāĻžāĻāϏ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĒā§āϰā§āύ āĻĒāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻāύāĻ āĻāϰāĻŽ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϞ⧠āĻ āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āϏāϤāϰā§āĻāϤāĻž āĻ āĻŦāϞāĻŽā§āĻŦāύ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Examine newly sterilized instruments visually for dryness. Ideally, the instruments will be dry on removal from the sterilizer but, if a drying cycle has not been used, manual drying using disposable, non-linting wipes may be necessary.
āĻļā§āώā§āĻāϤāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāϤ āύāϤā§āύ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻŦā§ āϤāĻŦā§, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻĄāĻŋāϏāĻĒā§āĻā§āĻŦāϞ, āύāύ-āϞāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
Do not leave sterilized instruments exposed in the clinical environment.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āϞāĻŋāύāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻļā§ āĻāύā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϰāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
Store instruments individually or in sets in clean, dry conditions and in a manner that prevents recontamination.
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻĨāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āĻļā§āώā§āĻ āĻ āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻŽāύāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻž āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
- Options include placing instruments in covered trays, cassettes, or clip-in-trays in enclosed boxes or cupboards in a rack system, or sealing within a clean, single-use, sterilization-grade wrapping material or self-seal sterilization bags/pouches.
- āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§, āĻĸā§āĻā§ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻā§āϰā§, āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻĒ-āĻāύ-āĻā§āϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āϝāĻžāĻ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽā§ āĻāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϏ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāύ āĻāϰāĻž, āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āĻāĻāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻāϰāĻž, āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻā§āϰā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻ āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻŦ-āϏāĻŋāϞ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻ/āĻĒāĻžāĻāĻāĨ¤
When labeling wrapped instruments write on the labels before attaching them to the wrapping directly with a ballpoint or felt pen as this might damage it.
āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāϞāĻĒāϝāĻŧā§āύā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϞāĻŽ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϏāϰāĻžāϏāϰāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ⧠āϞāĻŋāĻā§āύ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
Store instruments in clean enclosed cupboards drawers or boxes in an orderly manner that avoids damaging the wrapping.
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§āĻāύā§āύ āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāϰāĻŋāϰ āĻĄā§āϰāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϏ⧠āĻāĻŽāύ āϏā§āĻļā§āĻā§āĻāϞāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
Do not store any instruments on open shelving or on work surfaces in clinical areas.
āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϤ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĢāĻžāϰā§āϏā§āĻ-āĻāύ, āĻĢāĻžāϰā§āϏā§āĻ-āĻāĻāĻ āϏā§āĻāĻ āϰā§āĻā§āĻļāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Use a first-in, first-out stock rotation to minimize the duration of storage.
āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϤ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĢāĻžāϰā§āϏā§āĻ-āĻāύ, āĻĢāĻžāϰā§āϏā§āĻ-āĻāĻāĻ āϏā§āĻāĻ āϰā§āĻā§āĻļāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
4.3 Wrapped Instruments (Vacuum Sterilizers)
Instruments can only be processed wrapped in a vacuum (or a compatible type S) sterilizer that is designed for wrapped instruments. If using a non-vacuum sterilizer, refer to section 4.2.
āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻļā§āϧā§āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ (āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āĻāϏā§āϝāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ S) āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāύ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 4.2 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤
As wrapping and labeling are part of the validation process, the sterilizer should be re-validated when introducing new wrapping and labeling.
āϝā§āĻšā§āϤ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻāĻļ, āϤāĻžāĻ āύāϤā§āύ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖāĻā§ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤
If wrapping instruments prior to sterilization in a vacuum sterilizer, ensure that
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠âSterilization (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ) āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ
- the wrapping material manufactures instructions are followed.
- āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāϤā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ.
- the wrapping materials are compatible with the steam sterilization process (in dental practices, self -seal sterilization pouches are typically used.
- āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāĻāϰāĻŖāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āĻāϏā§āϝāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ (āĻĻāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§, āϏā§āĻŦ-āϏā§āϞ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻĒāĻžāĻāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
- only a single layer of wrapping material is used.
- āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻļā§āϧā§āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻ āϏā§āϤāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ.
- each Instrument is wrapped separately or as a set of instruments for a single treatment held in a cassette that prevents them overlapping.
- āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻāύā§āϏāĻā§āϰā§āĻŽā§āύā§āĻ āĻāϞāĻžāĻĻāĻžāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻā§ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻāĻ āĻā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻŽā§āύā§āĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āϏā§āĻ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϝāĻž āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻžāϰāϞā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
- the correct size of pouch is used larger then the contents.
- āĻĨāϞāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ āĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻŦāĻĄāĻŧ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
- the method of sealing preserves the microbial barrier properties of the wrapping and enables the pack to be opened aseptically (self-seal or fold three times and apply autoclave tape).
- āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāĻāĻā§āϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻ ā§āϝāĻžāϏā§āĻĒā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āϞāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻā§āώāĻŽ āĻāϰ⧠(āϏā§āϞāĻĢ-āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻŦāĻž āϤāĻŋāύāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻāĻ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āĻā§āĻā§āϞā§āĻ āĻā§āĻĒ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ)āĨ¤
Attach a pre-written or pre-printed adhesive label to each pack that includes the word ‘Sterile the process date, the sterilizer identification and cycle number. Do not write on the label after attaching it to the wrapping and do not write directly onto the wrapping with a ballpoint or felt pen as this might damage it
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦ-āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦ-āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻ āĻžāϞ⧠āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠'āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻ, āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϏāύāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŽā§āĻŦāϰ' āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āϰâā§āϝāĻžāĻĒāĻŋāĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ⧠āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāϞāĻĒāϝāĻŧā§āύā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϞāĻŽ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϏāϰāĻžāϏāϰāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĒāϰ⧠āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻž āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤
Use chemical process indicator that is either printed on the pouch or available as a label or tape.
āϰāĻžāϏāĻžāϝāĻŧāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻĨāϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻž āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻĒ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧāĨ¤
- Note that this does not indicate sterility but simply distinguishes items that have been exposed to a sterilization process from those that have not.
- āĻŽāύ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāύā§āϧā§āϝāĻžāϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĻā§āϝāĻŧ āύāĻž āϤāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŦāϞ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāϞāĻžāĻĻāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϏāĻāϏā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻļā§ āĻāϏā§āĻā§ āϝā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āύā§āĻāĨ¤
Ensure that the selected sterilization cycle includes a drying stage.
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻŋāϤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻ āύā§āϤāϰā§āĻā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
- It is essential to dry the load before the sterilizer chamber is opened otherwise the wrapped instruments will not remain sterile.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϞāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āϞā§āĻĄāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻŦā§ āύāĻžāĨ¤
4.3.1 Handling and Storage Wrapped Instruments Instruments Immediately After Sterilization.
Sterilization (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ) āĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻĒāϰāĻ āĻšā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāϞāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ-
Careful handling and storage of sterilized packs will ensure that the contents remain sterilized until the pack is opened.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āϝāϤā§āύ āϏāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏā§āĻā§āϰā§āĻ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻŦā§ āϝ⧠āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϞāĻž āύāĻž āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻā§āϰā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Check the wrapping material for dampness tears, broken seals, or any other damage and that the label is intact and the details are legible.
āϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāϤāϏā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻ āĻļā§āϰā§, āĻāĻžāĻāĻž āϏā§āϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻā§āύ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻā§āώāϤ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āϝā§āĻā§āϝāĨ¤
It is very important that instrument that instruments are completely dry when stored because dampness encourages the growth of microorganisms and corrosion of instruments.
āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āϤā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϝ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāϰā§āĻĒā§ āĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāϤāϏā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻ āĻŖā§āĻā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻā§āώāϝāĻŧāĻā§ āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§ā§ˇ
Handle packs carefully so that they are not dropped or damaged.
āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻžāĻŦāϧāĻžāύ⧠āĻšā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄā§āϞ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§ āύāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāϏā§āĻĨ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ
Do not place newly sterilized wrapped instrument packs on cool or solid surfaces because these items are cooling fast and are in a vulnerable state because the warm vapor leaving the pack can condense to form dew that wets the wrapping materials.
āύāϤā§āύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻļā§āϤāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻļāĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ ā§ āϰāĻžāĻāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻž āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āĻļā§āϤāϞ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻ āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻĄāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāώā§āĻŖ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻāύā§āĻā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āĻļāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāϰ āϤā§āϰāĻŋ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĒāĻāϰāĻŖāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āϝāĻŧāĨ¤
If a wrapped item or pack is wet, is dropped on the floor, is torn, or has broken seals, it is no longer sterile. Unwrap the instruments and return them to the start of the decontamination process.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ, āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ⧠āĻĢā§āϞ⧠āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻŋāĻāĻĄāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻā§āĻā§ āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻĢā§āϞā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻļā§āϰā§āϤ⧠āĻĢāĻŋāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻāĻŋāύāĨ¤
If wrapped sterile instrument packs are to be stored for some time, confirm that the process date is marked clearly on the wrapping to enable stock rotation.
āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāύā§āϏāĻā§āϰā§āĻŽā§āύā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻŦā§ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϏā§āĻāĻ āĻā§āϰā§āĻŖāύ āϏāĻā§āώāĻŽ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŋāĻšā§āύāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ā§ˇ
Check that the chemical process indicator has changed color correctly. If it has not, investigate the problem, assess the disruption to the decontamination process, and reprocess the instruments from the start of the decontamination cycle.
āϰāĻžāϏāĻžāϝāĻŧāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϤāĻĻāύā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āύ, āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻŽā§āϞā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāύ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Store wrapped instruments in clean, enclosed cupboards, drawers, or boxes in an orderly manner that avoids damaging the wrapping (i.e. dry with little variation in temperature and minimal handling).
āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āĻāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧ āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāϰāĻŋ, āĻĄā§āϰāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϏ⧠āϏā§āĻļā§āĻā§āĻāϞāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύā§āϝā§āύāϤāĻŽ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻļā§āĻāύā§)āĨ¤
Do not store instruments on open shelving or on work surfaces in clinical areas.
āĻā§āϞāĻŋāύāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞ āĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āϞāĻž āϤāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ ā§ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āϏāĻāϰāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
Use a first-in, first-out stock rotation to minimize the duration of storage of sterile instruments.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻĨāĻŽ āĻāύ, āĻĢāĻžāϰā§āϏā§āĻ-āĻāĻāĻ āϏā§āĻāĻ āϰā§āĻā§āĻļāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
5. Inspection of Instrument packs before use-
āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻĒāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύ-
Ensure hands are clean and dry when handling instrument packs.
āĻāύā§āϏāĻā§āϰā§āĻŽā§āύā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻšāĻžāϤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻļā§āĻāύ⧠āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Check each pack is satisfactory before use. Do not use the instruments if either.
āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻž.
- the outer wrapping or seals are damaged.
- āĻŦāĻžāĻāϰā§āϰ āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āϞ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāϏā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ.
- the pack is moist (see photograph).
- āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϰā§āĻĻā§āϰ (āĻāĻŦāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)āĨ¤
- the pack has labelling that is damaged or incorrect.
- āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§ āϝāĻž āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāϏā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϞāĨ¤
- the pack has a process indicator that has not changed colour correctly or.
- āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϝāĻž āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ āĻāϰā§āύāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĨ¤
- the instruments are visibly soiled.
- āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāϤ āύā§āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
Instead, open the pack and return the instrument to the start of the decontamination process.
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤā§, āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϞā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻā§āώāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻļā§āϰā§āϤ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĢāĻŋāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻāĻŋāύāĨ¤
If an instrument appears damaged, remove it from use.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āύ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāϏā§āĻĨ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏāϰāĻžāύāĨ¤
6. Validation, Periodic Testing, and Maintenance of small steam Sterilizers-
āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖ, āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ- There is no practical way of determining that items processed in a steam sterilizer have been sterilized. Instead, tests need to be carried out regularly to confirm that during each sterilization cycle the sterilizer reproduces the operating conditions that were previously established as effective for sterilization. Essentially, testing is necessary to confirm that the machine reproducibly does what it was designed and set up to do. āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāĻā§āϤ āĻāĻāĻā§āĻŽāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻā§āύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻĒāĻžāϝāĻŧ āύā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻ āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āύāϰā§āϤā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰ⧠āϝāĻž āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰāĨ¤ āĻŽā§āϞāϤ, āĻŽā§āĻļāĻŋāύāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāϰā§āϤā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϝāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻ āĻāĻĒ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤
Validation is a documented process used to show that sterilization will repeatedly and consistently take place to a satisfactory standard when defined operating conditions are used. These operating conditions include the choice of the sterilization cycle, the nature of the load, the loading pattern, wrapping, trays or containers, and labeling. Validation comprises a series of specified checks and tests carried out annually and as part of the commissioning process following the installation of a new sterilizer. These checks and tests are performed by Test Person (Sterilizers) as specified in SHTM 2010.
āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻšāϞ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻĨāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āϝāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝ⧠āϝāĻāύ āϏāĻāĻā§āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻŋāϤ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻļāϰā§āϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻāύ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŽāĻžāύ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻāĻāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻ āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻļāϰā§āϤāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒāĻāύā§āĻĻ, āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϤāĻŋ, āϞā§āĻĄāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāϰā§āύ, āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§, āĻā§āϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϞā§āĻŦā§āϞāĻŋāĻāĨ¤ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻ āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāϤā§āύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāύāϏā§āĻāϞ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻŋāĻļāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻ āĻāĻļ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāϏāĻāĻāĻāĻāĻŋāĻāĻŽ 2010-āĻ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āϏā§āĻ āĻĒāĻžāϰāϏāύ (āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ) āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
In addition, satisfactory periodic testing is necessary to provide ongoing reassurance that the sterilizer is performing consistently as specified at validation. The legal requirement is to carry out periodic tests as specified in the sterilizer manufacturer’s instructions. Daily and weekly tests will normally be carried out by practice personnel and are described below. Quarterly (if specified by the manufacturer) and yearly (also known as annual revalidation) tests require specialist equipment and are performed by external personnel (test person sterilizers. If the manufacturer’s instructions are not available, periodic testing as recommended within SHTM 2010 is necessary.
āĻāĻĒāϰāύā§āϤā§, āϏāύā§āϤā§āώā§āĻāĻŋāĻāύāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āϝ⧠āĻāϞāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻāĻļā§āĻŦāĻžāϏ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύ āĻāϰ⧠āϝ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻ āύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āϧāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻā§āĨ¤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϤ⧠āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻžāϞāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāύāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤ āĻĻā§āύāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻŦā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύā§āĻā§ āĻŦāϰā§āĻŖāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āϤā§āϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϏāĻŋāĻ (āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ) āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ (āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āύāϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāύā§āϝāĻžāϏ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ) āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻā§āĻ āϏāϰāĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŽā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻšāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻāϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏāĻā§āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ (āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰā§āĻĨā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§ā§ˇ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, SHTM 2010 āĻāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻā§āϤ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύ⧎ .
Table 2 lists the periodic tests that SHTM 2010 part 3 and MDA DB2002(06) describe in detail for the various types of steam sterilizers. For specific guidance on testing and maintenance of type S sterilizers, refer to the Manufacturer’s instructions.
āϏāĻžāϰāĻŖāĻŋ 2 āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϤāĻžāϞāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻĻā§āϝāĻŧ āϝāĻž SHTM 2010 āĻ āĻāĻļ 3 āĻāĻŦāĻ MDA DB2002(06) āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āϧāϰāύā§āϰ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāϰā§āĻŖāύāĻž āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ S āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāύāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§āύāĨ¤
A planned program of preventive maintenance is also required for each sterilizer. Maintenance work is carried out by a qualified maintenance person. In some cases when parts (e.g. temperature probes) are changed, it is necessary to have the sterilization cycle revalidated.
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āĻŽāϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻāύ āϝā§āĻā§āϝāϤāĻžāϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāύā§āύ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āϝāĻāύ āĻ āĻāĻļāĻā§āϞāĻŋ (āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāϏā§āĻŦāϰā§āĻĒ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āĻ āύā§āϏāύā§āϧāĻžāύ) āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻāύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤
For advice on validation of new or existing sterilizers, contact an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination)
āύāϤā§āύ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āϝāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϧāϤāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻ āĻĨāϰāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰā§āϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ Obtain a written test schedule for each sterilizer from a test person (sterilizers) or an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination). āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰā§) āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻ āĻĨāϰāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāϏā§āĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāύāĨ¤
6.1 Housekeeping Safety Checks
āĻšāĻžāĻāϏāĻāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āϏā§āĻĢāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ-
6.1.1 Daily Housekeeping checks for all sterilizers
6.1.1 āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻā§āύāĻŋāĻ āĻšāĻžāĻāϏāĻāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻ
At the start of each day.
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āϤā§āĨ¤
Wipe the door seal with a clean, disposable, damp, non-linting cloth and carry out any other checks required by the manufacturer.
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ, āύāĻŋāώā§āĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻŋāϝā§āĻā§āϝ, āϏā§āϝāĻžāĻāϤāϏā§āĻāϤā§, āύāύ-āϞāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻĄāĻŧ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāϞāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āĻā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻ āύā§āϝ āĻā§āύāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ⧎
Check that the chamber and shelves are clean.
āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤāĻžāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤
Refile the reservoir with suitable quality water (see section 3.6)
āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāϞ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāϞāĻžāϧāĻžāϰ āϰāĻŋāĻĢāĻŋāϞ āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 3.6 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)
When switching the power on, check that the ventilation louvers are not covered to avoid overheating.
āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϝā§āĻāĻ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ, āĻ āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻŽ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§āĻāϞāĻžāĻāϞ āϞā§āϝā§āĻāĻžāϰā§āϏ āĻĸā§āĻā§ āύā§āĻ āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
If recommended by the sterilizer manufacturer, preheat the sterilizer chamber before performing daily tests.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āϏā§āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻļ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϞā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Record the completion of the checks in the sterilizer logbook.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.1.2 Weekly Safety checks for all sterilizers-
6.1.2 āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž-
Before carrying out any weekly tests, the following checks are carried out in addition to the daily housekeeping checks.
āĻā§āύ⧠āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻšāĻžāĻāϏāĻāĻŋāĻĒāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāĻ āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻā§āĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
- Examine the door seal for signs of wear damage.
- āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāϰ āϞāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āϏā§āϞāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- Examine the security and performance of the door safety features including the hinges and the locking mechanism as detailed in the manufacturers instructions.
- āĻāĻŦā§āĻāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϞāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻŽā§āĻāĻžāύāĻŋāĻāĻŽ āϏāĻš āĻĻāϰāĻāĻž āϏā§āϰāĻā§āώāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ āϝā§āĻŽāύ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϤ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāϤ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤
- If a faullt is detected in the door seal or safety features ,ensure this is corrected before carrying out weekly tests or using the sterilizer.
- āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āϰāĻā§āώāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻā§āύāĻ āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋ āϧāϰāĻž āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§ āϤāĻŦā§ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻāĻļā§āϧāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- Record satisfactory completion of the weekly safety checks in the sterilizer logbook.
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āϏāĻŽāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.2 Automatic Control Test for All Sterilizers.
āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž.
The automatic controller is the device within the sterilizer that controls the sterilization cycle. To be sure that is working, an automatic control test is carried out every day either using the sterilization cycle parameter values recorded on the printout or electronic data logger or by manually observing and recording the cycle parameters if there is not a suitable recorded fitted. In addition, a manual automatic control test should also be carried out once per week for all sterilizers.
āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻ āĻšāϞ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āϝāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ, āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϞā§āĻāĻā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§, āĻ āĻĨāĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āύāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻāϞ⧠āϏāĻžāĻāĻā§āϞ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāĻ, āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤
The automatic control test can be done when sterilizing a standard load unless also carrying out a steam penetration test for a vacuum sterilizer at the same time. This is usually the first cycle of the day.
āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰā§āĻĄ āϞā§āĻĄ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻāĻāĻ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĨāĻŽ āĻāĻā§āϰāĨ¤
6.2.1 Automatic Control Test Using a Recorded-
6.2.1 āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
This test is carried out once per day if the sterilizer is fitted with a suitable record (i.e. a printer or electronic data logger). If a suitable record is not fitted, a manual automatic control must be carried out each day (see section 6.2.2)
āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϞā§āĻāĻā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ) āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āύāĻĨāĻŋāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧ āĻāϰāĻž āύāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ (āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ 6.2.2 āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)
- Run a sterilization cycle with a standard load or an empty chamber (the chamber must be empty if a steam penetration test is also carried out in a vacuum sterilizer).
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰā§āĻĄ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āϏāĻš āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϞāĻžāύ (āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϤ⧠āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§)āĨ¤
- At the end of the cycle, check the printout or data logger to ensure that the recorded cycle parameters(temperature, pressure, hold me) are within the specified range for the cycle and comparable to the values obtained at
- āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻļā§āώā§, āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāύā§āĻāĻāĻāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻĄā§āĻāĻž āϞāĻāĻžāϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϞāĻŋ (āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ, āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻā§āύ) āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻŽāĻžāύāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϤā§āϞāύā§āϝāĻŧ
- Keep a record of the recorded values for temperature, pressure and hold time.
- āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āϰāĻžāĻā§āύāĨ¤
- If the automatic control test is unsatisfactory (i.e. the recorded temperature, pressure or hold time are not within the specified range for the cycle) record the test as a fail and do not use the sterilizer until the fault has been resolved.
- āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻšāϝāĻŧ (āĻ āϰā§āĻĨāĻžā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻŦāĻž āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āύāϝāĻŧ) āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŦā§āϝāϰā§āĻĨ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ āύāĻž āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
- In this case, return any instruments that were loaded in the sterilizer to the start of the decontamination process.
- āĻāĻ āĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰā§, āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āϝā§āĻā§āύ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻĢāĻŋāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻāĻŋāύāĨ¤
- Sign the logbook.
- āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āώāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.2.2 Manual Automatic Control Test
āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
The test is carried out once per day if the sterilizer does not have a suitable recorded fitted, and once per week if there is a suitable recorder.
Run a sterilization cycle with a standard load or an empty chamber ( the chamber must be empty if also carrying out a steam penetration test in a vacuum sterilizer.
āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāύ⧠āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āύāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄāĻžāϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϝāĻžāύā§āĻĄāĻžāϰā§āĻĄ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āϏāĻš āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϞāĻžāύ ( āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§ā§ˇ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϝāĻāύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻāĻ āĻĒāϝāĻŧā§āύā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύāĻāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§)
Begin timing the sterilization hold period of the cycle when the sterilizer reaches the sterilizing temperature (the display might also indicate when this point is reached )
Note the bar pressure reached during the hold period
Note the temperature reached during the hold period.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āϝāĻāύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻāύ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϞ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰā§āύ (āĻāĻ āĻĒāϝāĻŧā§āύā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āĻāĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύāĻāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§) āĻšā§āϞā§āĻĄ āĻĒāĻŋāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻĄā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻĒā§āĻāĻā§āĻā§ āύā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻšā§āϞā§āĻĄ āĻĒāĻŋāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻĄā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž āĻĒā§āĻāĻā§āĻā§ āύā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
Record the temperature, pressure, and hold time in the sterilizer logbook, Record the test as a pass if these values are within the specified range for the cycle and comparable to the values obtained at validation.
If the automatic control test is unsatisfactory (i.e. the temperature, pressure, or hold time are not within the specified range for the cycle), record the test as a fail and do not use the sterilizer until the fault has been resolved.
Sign the logbook.
āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύ, āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻ āĻŽāĻžāύāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦā§āϧāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻŽāĻžāύāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āϤā§āϞāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŦā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāϏ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻšāϝāĻŧ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āϤāĻžāĻĒāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻž, āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻŦāĻž āϧāϰ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āύāϝāĻŧ), āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŦā§āϝāϰā§āĻĨ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ āύāĻž āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āώāϰ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.3 Steam Penetration Test for Vacuum Sterilizers
āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻāĻŋāĻŽ āĻĒā§āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰā§āĻļāύ āĻā§āϏā§āĻ
This test is carried out in vacuum sterilizers designed to sterilize wrapped instruments. It is intended to show that steam will rapidly and evenly penetrate a test device that is similar to the intended load.
Refer to the sterilizer manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended test device and indicator.
āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϝāĻž āĻŽā§āĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύ⧠āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻŽāĻžāύāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāϰāĻŦā§ āϝāĻž āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āϰā§āĻĒāĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāϤ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āĻāĻŦāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŖāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§āύāĨ¤ āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āϤā§, āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āĻŦā§āϝāϤā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
At the start of the day, select the usual sterilization cycle and perform the test with the chamber empty apart from the test device, following the test device manufacturer’s instructions.
Record whether the test was a pass or a fail in the sterilizer logbook.
If the steam penetration test result is unsatisfactory, repeat the test. A second unsatisfactory test result confirms that there is a fault. Arrange for a Maintenance person to investigate and do not use the sterilizer to sterilize instruments until the fault has been resolved.
āĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āϰā§āϤā§, āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϰāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāϰāĻŖ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĄāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāϏ āĻŦā§āϝāϤā§āϤ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŋ āϰā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāϏ āĻŦāĻž āĻĢā§āϞ āĻāĻŋāϞ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻšāϞā§, āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāĻŦā§āϤā§āϤāĻŋ āĻāϰā§āύ. āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻ āϏāύā§āϤā§āώāĻāύāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰ⧠āϝ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āĨ¤ āϤāĻĻāύā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāύ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ āύāĻž āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āϝāύā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āύ āύāĻžāĨ¤
6.4 Air leakage test for Vacuum Sterilizers
āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϞāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
If air leaks into the sterilizer chamber at a higher rate than specified by the manufacturer. It might interfere with the penetration of steam into the load and as the air will not have passed through the bacteria retentive filter, there is a risk of recontaminating the load. An air leakage test involves removing air from the chamber, isolating the chamber, and monitoring the pressure for a period of time. Air leakage will cause and increase in the chamber pressure.
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋ āĻšāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āϞā§āĻĄā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļā§ āĻšāϏā§āϤāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝā§āĻšā§āϤ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϤāĻžāϏ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āϰāĻŋāĻā§āύāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĢāĻŋāϞā§āĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻŦā§ āύāĻž, āϤāĻžāĻ āϞā§āĻĄāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āύāϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖ, āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϤāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻĒ āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻšāĻŦā§.
If an automatic test is available, carry out an air leakage test according to the manufacturer’s instructions once per week.
It is preferable to have a sterilizer that is capable of performing an automatic test because otherwise a test a person is required to perform a weekly manual test.
Note that some manufacturers specify that is carried out each day before the steam penetration test.
Record the results in the sterilizer logbook.
āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞ⧠āĻ āύā§āϏāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āϏāĻā§āώāĻŽ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻŽā§āϝāĻžāύā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāϞ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āύā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϤāĻžāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰ⧠āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻŦāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.5 Automatic Air Detection System Function Test for Vacuum Sterilizers
āĻā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻŧāĻžāĻŽ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻļāύ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻļāύ āĻā§āϏā§āĻ
Sterilizers that actively remove air from the load before sterilization are fitted with a means of detecting whether any air present in the chamber is sufficient to impair sterilization during each cycle. A test is performed each week to check that the air detector is functioning correctly. The details of the test vary between different makes of the sterilizer. If the user cannot perform this test, it will require a test person to visit weekly to perform the test. This will add significantly to your costs so check this before purchase.
Carry out an automatic air detection system function test as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions once per week.
Record the results in the sterilizer logbook
āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āϏāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻā§āĻŽā§āĻŦāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϤ āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϝāĻĨā§āώā§āĻ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āϏāύāĻžāĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āϞāĻžāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻĄāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§āĻāϰ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻā§ āĻāĻŋāύāĻž āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āϤā§āϰāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦāϰāĻŖāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϤāĻŦā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰā§āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĻāϰā§āĻļāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻā§ āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāϝā§āĻā§āϝāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϝā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻŦā§ āϤāĻžāĻ āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āϏāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŽā§āĻāύāĻĢā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰāĻžāϰā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϤ⧠āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āϏāύāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻļāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϏā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϞāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
6.6 Other Periodic Tests
Arrange for a test person to carry out quarterly (if specified by the manufacturer) and yearly (annual revalidation) tests (e. g. through the purchase of a new sterilizer via the NHSScotland national contract with the full support package or by an arrangement with a contractor). A suitably experienced and qualified maintenance person may perform some of these tests (see appendix )
āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāϰā§āĻĨā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϤā§āϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϏāĻŋāĻ (āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĨāĻžāĻā§) āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ (āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻĒā§āύāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāĻŖ) āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻāϰā§āύ (āϝā§āĻŽāύ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϏāĻŽāϰā§āĻĨāύ āĻĒā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻ āϏāĻš NHSScotland āĻāĻžāϤā§āϝāĻŧ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ āĻŋāĻāĻžāĻĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύāϤā§āύ āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āĻā§āύāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§)āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻ āĻāĻŋāĻā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝā§āĻā§āϝ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύ (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ)
6.7 Maintenance of Small Steam Sterilizers
āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ
Obtain a maintenance contract to carry out the program of preventative maintenance tasks as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions.
If the manufacturer’s program of maintenance is not available, consult the Maintenance person (sterilizers) who might be an employee of the supplier or manufacturer ) to devise a suitable program.
Ensure details of all maintenance work are recorded in the sterilizer logbook, including problems, faults, and preventative and corrective actions.
If any maintenance or modification work is carried out to the pressure system, seek the advice of a competent person (pressure vessels) before using the sterilizer.
āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļāĻžāĻŦāϞā§āϤ⧠āĻāϞā§āϞā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāύāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽ āĻāĻĒāϞāĻŦā§āϧ āύāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻā§āϰāĻžāĻŽ āϤā§āϰāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ (āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰā§) āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āĻāϰā§āύ āϝāĻŋāύāĻŋ āϏāϰāĻŦāϰāĻžāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻāϰā§āĻŽāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļāĻĻ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž, āϤā§āϰā§āĻāĻŋ, āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻāĻļā§āϧāύāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āĻĒāĻĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āϏāĻš āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖā§āϰ āϞāĻāĻŦā§āĻā§ āϰā§āĻāϰā§āĻĄ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§ āϤāĻž āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰā§āϏāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽā§ āĻā§āύ⧠āϰāĻā§āώāĻŖāĻžāĻŦā§āĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āύāĻžāĻļāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻĻāĻā§āώ āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ (āĻāĻžāĻĒāĻŦāĻžāĻšā§ āĻāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ) āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ āύāĻŋāύāĨ¤
Periodic tests for small steam sterilizers
āĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦā§āĻāύ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
Daily Tests-
āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž-
- Automatic control test
- Steam penetration test
- āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
- āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
Weekly tests- (āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž)-
Weekly safety checks (door seal and lock) Air leakage test (Automatic) Air detection system function test (automatic) Automatic control test
Steam Penetration test
- āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āĻĻāϰāĻāĻž āϏāĻŋāϞ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤāĻžāϞāĻž)
- āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ)
- āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āϏāύāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻļāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ)
- āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
- āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
Quarterly tests-
āϤā§āϰā§āĻŽāĻžāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž-
- Weekly safety checks
- Air leakage test(automatic)
- Air leakage test (sensors connected)
- Automatic control test
- Verification of calibration of sterilizer instruments
- Thermometric test for a small load.
- Air leakage test (sensors removed).
- All detection system function test (automatic)
- Steam penetration test.
- āϏāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻā§āĻ
- āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ)
- āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āύā§āϏāϰ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤ)
- āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
- āĻā§āĻŦāĻžāĻŖā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āϝāύā§āϤā§āϰā§āϰ āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻžāĻā§āĻāύ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻāϰāĻŖ
- āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āĻ āϞā§āĻĄ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĨāĻžāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻŽā§āĻā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž.
- āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āύā§āϏāϰ āĻ āĻĒāϏāĻžāϰāĻŖ)āĨ¤
- āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϤ āϏāύāĻžāĻā§āϤāĻāϰāĻŖ āϏāĻŋāϏā§āĻā§āĻŽ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻļāύ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ)
- āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž.
Yearly and Revalidation tests-
āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĒā§āύāϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻāύāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž-
- Yearly safety checks
- Steam non-condensable gas test
- Steam superheat test
- Steam dryness test
- Air leakage test (automatic)
- Air leakage test (sensors connected)
- Automatic control test.
- Verification of calibration of sterilizer instruments
- chamber overheat cut-out test.
- Air detector test for a small load.
- Air detector test for a full load
- Thermostatic test for a small load.
- Thermostatic test for a full load.
- Test for performance requalification as required by the user.
- Air leakage test (sensors removed)
- Air detection system function test (automatic)
- Steam penetration test.
The user may perform these tests only with the prior agreement by an Authorising Engineer (Decontamination)
āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āώāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰāĻžāĻĒāϤā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āĻāύā§āĻā§āϤ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
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āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻļā§āώā§āĻāϤāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž
āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āĻŦāϝāĻŧāĻāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ)
āĻŦāĻžāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĢā§āĻā§ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž (āϏā§āύā§āϏāϰ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤ)
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āĻŦāĻžāώā§āĻĒ āĻ āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž.
āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻžāĻā§āϞāĻŋ āĻļā§āϧā§āĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāύ āĻ āĻĨāϰāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ (āĻĄāĻŋāĻāύāĻā§āϝāĻžāĻŽāĻŋāύā§āĻļāύ) āĻāϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋāϰ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύ