Why do instruments need to be CLEANED prior sterilisation?
- Contaminants prevents direct surface contact with steam
- Deposits become fixed to instruments = difficult to clean later, reservoir
Why do instruments need to be DRIED prior sterilisation?
- Steam cannot penetrate water (canot contact surface)
- Steriliser designed to cope with dry instruments
Why is air removed from the sterilisation chambers prior sterilisation?
Steam cannot penetrate air (twice as dense)
What is a process control device?
- Device containing chemical indicator
- Designed to test whether steam can penetrate and reach indicator
Type N sterilisers
- Passive displacement of air
- Solid instruments, no lumens and unwrapped
- For immediate use only (cannot store)
- ‘Sterilised’
Type B sterilisers
- Vacuum air removal
- Wrapped or hollow instruments allowed
- Once packaged -> ‘sterile’
What are the housekeeping tasks for sterilisers?
- Examine + wipe door seal
- Ensure chamber + shelves clean
- Refil reservoir with water
Describe a cycle of a Type B steriliser
- Pre-treatment = air removed by vacuum
- Sterilisation = steam
- Drying by vacuum
- Cooling
How is a DAILY test carried out for a Type B steriliser?
- Check printout
- PCD = Bowie Dick or Helix
- -> Steam penetration testing
How is a WEEKLY test carried out for a Type B steriliser?
- Daily test +
- Vacuum leak test
(detects loss of vacuum) - Air detector function test
(detects drop in temp)
How is a DAILY test carried out for a Type N steriliser?
- Check printout
How is a WEEKLY test carried out for a Type N steriliser?
- Daily test +
- Chemical test strip
What 3 factors are needed to achieve sterilisation in Type B sterilisers?
- Temperature = 134-137C
- Pressure = 2-2.3 bar
- Time = MINIMUM 3mins
How are sterilisers VALIDATED?
- Test Person (Validation Engineer) or AED
- Quarterly and annually tests
What are the advantages of steam sterilisation?
- Rapid heating
- Rapid penetration of load
- Rapid destruction of microbes
- No toxic residue
- Cheap
- Easily controlled and monitored
What is checked during an inspection of instruments?
- Cleanliness
- Dryness
- Function
- Damage
What are the requirements of a package?
- Strong
- Steam can penetrate
- Can withstand high temps
- Maintain sterility after sterilisation
