Sharp instruments and those with complex shapes repeatedly used in medical and dental clinics pick up blood and tissue that may harbor dangerous microorganisms. To protect patients as well as personnel staffing these clinics from possible infection, a well-defined procedure has been established by the CDC starting with an ultrasonic cleaner, followed by disinfecting and sterilizing.
Manually cleaning such instruments is not a wise option for two important reasons. First, because of their sharp points and edges they could cause a puncture wound with potentially unfortunate consequences. Second, manually cleaning and scrubbing does not remove blood or tissue that may be lodged in the instruments’ hinges and tight angles.
The recommended cleaning process starts by immediately placing used instruments in a mesh basket, immersing them in an enzyme or germicidal solution and keeping them there until they are ready for the ultrasonic cleaning cycle. Do not let them dry out.
When a quantity of instruments is ready for the ultrasonic cleaning cycle, transfer the basket to an ultrasonic cleaner filled with a biodegradable cleaning solution such as Ultradose, diluted to the manufacturer’s specifications. (Do not use a disinfectant solution as it makes protein contaminants harder to remove.) The instruments should be fully immersed in the solution.
During the ultrasonic cleaning cycle millions of minute air bubbles are created by ultrasonic transducers mounted on the bottom of the cleaning tank. In a process called cavitation these implode on contact with the instruments, reaching into the smallest cracks and crevices to strip away all contaminants without damaging the instruments themselves.
After approximately 10 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaning cycle remove and rinse the instruments, which are now ready for the disinfecting and sterilizing operations in conformance with CDC recommendations.
At the end of the day drain and replace the ultrasonic cleaning solution after cleaning the tank itself. Ultrasonic cleaning equipment suppliers such as Tovatech are excellent resources to consult regarding the size of the cleaner, cleaning solutions and system maintenance tailored to your medical or dental clinic operations.
In summary, the faster and more thorough cleaning provided by ultrasonic energy makes these cleaners a wise investment in the healthcare sector.
——————
What procedures have you established to clean reusable instruments in your clinic?
Tags: ultrasonic, ultrasonic cleaner
