Why is sterilizing medical equipment important?

Sterilisation kills micro organisms including bacteria (and their spores), fungi and viruses. According to the Public Health Regulation 2012, all re-usable instruments which penetrate the skin must be sterilised.

What is the importance of sterilization?

Sterilization is the process that kills all forms of bacteria, disease, fungi, and viruses. Disinfection procedures before and after a medical event prevent the transmission of germs. Not only will it protect the patients, but also the medical professional.

Why sterilization is important for surgical instruments?

Classification of Medical Devices and/or Equipment The principal goal of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization is to reduce the number of microorganisms on the device to such a level that the probability of transmission of infection will be nil. The risk of transmission of infection depends on the type of device.

What is medical sterilization?

Sterilization surgery is a procedure to permanently prevent reproduction. Surgery in women is called tubal ligation. Surgery in men is called a vasectomy.

What is sterilized medical equipment?

Medical devices are sterilized in a variety of ways including using moist heat (steam), dry heat, radiation, ethylene oxide gas, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and other sterilization methods (for example, chlorine dioxide gas, vaporized peracetic acid, and nitrogen dioxide).

What does it mean to sterilize equipment?

You submerge the equipment into the prepared chemical completely for a certain amount of time until the pathogens die. Once sterilized, rinse off the equipment and allow it to dry. Chemical sterilization isn’t suitable for biological materials, fiber optics and other highly heat-sensitive materials.

How do you sterilize medical equipment?

How does sterilize medical equipment work?

How does radiation sterilize medical equipment?

Radiation is used to sterilize medical instruments by first sealing a clean, but not bacteria-free, instrument in an air-tight bag. These ionizing radiations can kill the bacteria (cells); and the air-tight bag will keep the instrument sterile until the bag is opened in the medical facility.

What is sterilization equipment?

Sterilization Equipment

• Steam sterilizers.
• Sterlization system.
• Control system.
• Composite trays.
• Hydrogen peroxide and gas-plasma sterilization.
• Aseptic environments.
• Steam generators.
• E-beam system.

How does medical sterilization work?

Radiation kills germs that can cause disease and neutralizes other harmful organisms. Sterilization with ionizing radiation inactivates microorganisms very efficiently and, when used for product wrapping, ensures that healthcare products are safe and can be relied upon.

How is hospital equipment sterilized?

Sterilisation involves reaching temperatures of 134°c, and this will not only eliminate any dirt or foreign particles remaining but also decreases bioburden. Once the equipment has been sterilised, they are clean and ready to be used again. All HSDU staff are trained in all areas of cleaning.

What are the advantages of sterilizing medical equipment?

The main advantage of sterilizing medical equipment is that it eliminates the spread of infections. When a medical device or surgical instrument comes into contact with a patient’s sterile tissue or mucous membranes, pathogenic microbes can contaminate it.

Why is it important to clean the instruments before sterilization?

Cleaning the instruments is essential before the process of sterilization can be performed. This means removing debris, organic or inorganic, from medical equipment immediately after use. Without proper cleaning, using these instruments can affect the health of the patient.

What is the best way to sterilize dental equipment?

Chemical sterilization is another option. This method utilizes prepared chemical solutions such as ethylene oxide and bleach. Plasma gas sterilization utilizes low temp hydrogen peroxide-based gas plasma to kill microorganisms such as spores, fungi, and bacteria on dental and medical equipment.

What are the guidelines for sterilization in healthcare settings?

Furthermore, care must be consistent from an infection prevention standpoint in all patient-care settings, such as hospital and outpatient facilities. A sterilization process should be verified before it is put into use in healthcare settings.