How to sterilize operating room instruments?
The modern operating room history is dated back around the 18th century. Multiple operating room instruments and surgical equipment have been used for diagnosis and surgeries since ages. Today, lights, stretchers, cushion, mattress, blankets, sterilization and cleaning equipment, disposable items, gel pads, surgical tables and their accessories and modern communication system are a few necessary tools used in operating rooms. Similarly, there are some basic operating theatre instruments (surgical) such as Atraumatic forceps, clamps, Lister Bandage Scissors, spreaders, knives, pliers, suction, punches and retractors. Among them, some are one time use and some are reusable tools and surgical instruments. Reusable equipment need to be cleaned and sterilized before surgeries to prevent germ contamination. But proper cleaning and sterilization are not easy tasks to be done. In a huge variety of tools and surgical instruments, a few has always been difficult to be sterilized such as Tissue Forceps, Bulldog Clamps, Vascular Clamps, Cast Spreader and Lister Bandage Scissors. Have you ever thought which sterilization method should be used to sterilize surgical instrument? In this article, I will explain two simple, easy and safe methods of sterilization which can save your cost and precious time.
Method 1: Sterilize the Instrument in an Autoclave
Autoclave machines are designed to kill microorganisms with heat, pressure, steam and time. This method is simple and highly-effective. Following are a few steps to be followed.
Make a bag of instruments and choose fast exhaust and dry cycle in Autoclave.
Place your bags of surgical instruments on trays. Do not make a stack on trays.
Keep 1 inch distance between trays to let the steam pass each bag on loaded trays.
Set the Autoclave on a certain pressure and time. You can set 250 degrees for 30 minutes at 15 PSI or 273 degrees for 15 minutes at 30 PSI. Keep open a small bit of door open to let the steam pass out.
After completing the cycle, use a thong and take out the bags to check the changed color of the tape of sterilized instruments. Keep them cool at room temperature.
Keep a record of sterilized instruments.
Do a biologic control test in autoclave to check whether the sterility process is adequate or not.
Check the results of the controlled test.
Method 2: Sterilization by Dry Heat
An oven is specially designed to burn the microorganisms through dry heat. Two types of dry heats static-air type (a slow process) and forced air type (a process with a motor) are used for sterilization. Following are a few steps to be followed.
Clean the surgical instruments and keep them in bags.
Apply indicator tape and place them on trays in the oven. Do not overload or make stacks in the oven.
Start the sterilization process.
When cycle is completed, take out the bags and keep them in a dry, safe and clean place.
Doctors, surgeons and paramedical staff often complain about the malfunctioning and color fadedness after the sterilization process. Therefore, GerMedUSA has manufactured such an amazing and highly affordable surgical instruments that cleaning or sterilization process do not harm the color, materials and shapes. To save your money and time chose GerMedUSA.