Steam sterilization or autoclave sterilization is the most common sterilization method of surgery supplies. The instrument is placed in the operating bag and exposed under pressure to steam. Sterilization indication (required), such as autoclave or indicator strip, used to identify sterilized surgery supplies. The following article shall tell you more about the sterilization of surgery supplies.

Here are the main points of the article:

What are the benefits of sterilizing surgery supplies?

How can we sterilize surgery supplies?

What are the benefits of sterilizing surgery supplies?

In invasive surgery, there is contact between the patient's mucosa or sterile tissue and surgery supplies or medical equipment. An important risk of such operations is the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms that can lead to infection. When you don't properly disinfect or disinfect surgery supplies, it increases the risk of infection by breaking the host barrier. Both health care workers and patients need to eliminate bacteria to reduce the spread of infections. A prime example of this is the fight against health-care related infections (HAIs), in which hospital patients become infected as a result of hospitalization. Surgery supplies, contaminated equipment, or inappropriate staff hygiene can lead to HAIs. Some of the benefits of sterilizing surgery supplies include the removal of pus, blood, and residual foreign matter and dirt that could pose a dangerous complication for the next patient who needs surgery. It reduces the biological burden -- the number of unsterilized bacteria that live on the surface. It prevents corrosion of expensive and highly sophisticated surgery supplies with delicate pivots and hinges. It removes the soil from which bacteria grow. It also ensures safe transport of surgery supplies to be sterilized or sterilized for packaging and assembly. Sterilization and disinfection, if used properly, can ensure the safe use of non-invasive and invasive surgery supplies.

How can we sterilize surgery supplies?

It is important to select the best disinfection method for surgery supplies. In the best case, using inappropriate or inadequate sterilization methods will prevent your surgery supplies from getting FDA and other regulatory approval. In the worst case, inadequate disinfection can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, which can lead to illness or death.

Some of the methods of surgery supplies’ sterilization are listed below:

1.   Steam sterilization: Most asepsis departments have steam sterilizers called pressure cookers. That's because steam cleans many common surgery supplies, and is often the safest and cheapest option. Some technicians would consider using another method only if the surgery supplies is made of heat-sensitive materials or if it cannot be sterilized with steam. Pressure cookers exert tremendous pressure and heat to destroy any microorganisms on the object. For steam sterilization, clean the outer surface of surgery supplies with appropriate detergents. Before you start, you can wrap the instrument in paper or cotton to prevent damage. For best results, steam must be exposed to all equipment surfaces. When you put the surgery supplies into the steam sterilizer, make sure there is enough space between the components so that they can move freely.

2.   Dry heat sterilization: When the steam can't penetrate or damage the surgery supplies, your next logical choice is dry heat. Dry heat is a strong but slow technique that requires high temperatures and time. Because of this, it does not work with many materials, but it is still generally more reliable than other options. Dry heat sterilization uses air at about 340 degrees Fahrenheit to kill microorganisms.

3.    Chemical sterilization: The prepared chemical solution participates in the process. Some of the chemicals commonly used in sterilization are ozone, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and bleach. These chemicals have the ability to kill many pathogens, and their properties can be harmful to humans. You completely immerse the surgery supplies in the prepared chemicals for a period of time until the pathogen dies. Once disinfected, rinse the equipment and let it dry. Chemical sterilization is not suitable for biological materials, optical fibers and other materials with high thermal sensitivity.

There are also other ways of sterilization of the surgery supplies, for more information, feel free to contact us.