Process Reusable Medical Devices and Equipment

This article discusses the process of preparing used medical devices for sterilization, including safe disposal of waste and PPE requirements. It also provides instructions on sterilization processes for dental surgery and maintenance procedures for sterilizers. The article cites relevant guidelines and patents to support the information provided.

Running head: PROCESS REUSABLE MEDICAL DEVICES & EQUIPMENT 1
Process Reusable Medical Devices and Equipment
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Process Reusable Medical Devices & Equipment
Case Study 1
Detail the process that you would take to prepare used items on an instrument tray containing
used non-critical, critical, and semi-critical items for sterilisation. List your procedure from
contaminated tray to readiness for sterilising. Include in your response any requirements for safe
disposal of waste, use of correct bins for some items, and PPE requirements for yourself.
The first step in sterilization process is to separate all critical, semi-critical and non-
critical items in the tray. According to NHMRC (2010) article which gives the guidelines for
the prevention and control of infection in healthcare, critical items are items that have a high
risk of contamination with any micro-organisms and should always be kept sterile when
being used (Draft, 2010). If continuous sterilization is not possible, it is important to subject
the critical items on high-level disinfection for reprocessing. Non-critical items are items
which are in contact with the skin but not with the mucous membrane. For such items,
thorough cleaning should be made. Semi-critical items come into contact with the mucous
membrane and should be sterilized after used (Magno et al., 2017). Separation of items in the
tray into critical, semi-critical and non-critical helps to access the level of risk of these items.
Cleaning and Disinfection are the next steps after accessing the level of risk.
Cleaning can either be done manually or by automated cleaners. It should be done before
disinfection to remove organic materials and soils. Cleaning agents and equipment should be
appropriate for each item. This should be according to the instructions provided by the
manufacturer. For instance, NHMRC (2010) provides that organic materials such as blood
and pus can be removed from equipment using enzymes such as a protease (Draft, 2010).
Finally, the effectiveness of cleaning should be done to ensure that all the equipment is
visibly clean. Disinfection is the next process after cleaning. Disinfection is the process of
using thermal or chemical agents to inactivate infectious agents. These items should then be
removed from the disinfectant and kept dry in their correct bins.

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Sterilisation is the process where all microorganisms on the instruments are destroyed
to prevent disease transmission from the use of these items. Steam sterilization is essential for
items that are heat resistant. Items that are heat and moisture sensitive should be subjected to
low temperatures for sterilization (Magno et al., 2017). Records and validation of sterilization
should be kept and made by the user. Nevertheless, reprocessing of these instruments should
be in accordance with the changing technologies and design. One should wear protective
garments during reprocessing. Gloves, for instance, should be used to protect hands. A gown
or an apron is used to protect the skin and clothing. In addition, one should wear masks,
respirators, goggles and face shields for protection.
Case Study 2
You have been asked to provide instruction on sterilisation processes at your dental surgery to a
newly employed dental assistant. Included is how to load and unload the steam steriliser and the
importance of monitoring and recording the sterilisation. In your own words, describe your
sterilisation processes.
Cleaning is the first step in the dental sterilization process. It involves the removal of
organic or inorganic materials from the dental devices. This can be done using an ultrasonic
cleaner, instrument washer or disinfector. Steam sterilisation, dry heat sterilisation and
unsaturated chemical vapour sterilizers are most commonly used for dental sterilisation.
According to Magno et al. (2017) one should follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer on how to load and unload the steam steriliser. If not provided one should
ensure that there is minimum contact between packages in the steriliser chamber. This is
important to ensure that the package surfaces can be reached by the sterilizing agent. Steam
sterilisers enter the package through the paper side which is impermeable. Labelling is also
necessary before sterilisation process. This helps in reducing the risk of mistaking the
labelled instruments with the unprocessed instruments. Instruments that are wet after
sterilisation process should not be handled. Steam sterilisers have automated dry cycle while

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others require that the door be left half-inch opened. Dry-up packages should then be
removed from the steam sterilizer to the sterilizer tray using gloves. In brief, sterilization
requires proper loading to ensure that all instruments are exposed to the recommended
temperatures and the required amount of time. Proper unloading of the steriliser helps in
maintaining sterility of the dental instruments (Magno et al., 2017).
Recording keeping and monitoring are the essential tools in every sterilization
process. This is important for documentation process where assurance is provided that the
items were indeed sterilized. Sterilisation records should include the date, sterilization
number, temperatures, operators name and the chemical and biological indicators results
(Magno et al., 2017). In conclusion, sterilization of instruments is important to prevent the
spread of diseases from one person to the other. Cleaning, disinfection, sterilizing, recording
and monitoring are essential tools for reprocessing of instruments.
Case Study 3
In order to maintain effective operation, washing, and sterilisation, equipment requires regular
cleaning and maintenance that meets both manufacturer recommendations and Australian
standards. Describe the daily, weekly, monthly, and ‘as scheduled’ maintenance procedures that
should be undertaken for maintaining a steriliser. In your response, include the different testing
methods used and the importance of ensuring quality assurance of sterilisation equipment.
To ensure the continued high performance of sterilizers, it is essential that proper
maintenance procedures are performed to have them in the appropriate working conditions.
The daily maintenance procedures include; washing the ‘rubber’ chamber seal and cleaning
the trays and the inside surfaces using a soft material, warm water and a mild disinfectant.
The metal surface that covers the chamber seal should be cleaned moderately with a nylon
scourers, warm water and a mild disinfectant (Magno et al., 2017). The weekly maintenance
procedures comprise; cleaning the tray track, trays and sterilization chamber using a soft
fabric, warm water and a mild cleanser. The outer surfaces should be cleaned the same way.
Additionally, the water reservoir should be flushed for sterilizers that recycle water.

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The monthly maintenance procedures include; inspecting the operation of the door
and if necessary the hinges should be lubricated using silicone spray or oil. The primary
filters if fixed; they should also be removed and cleaned (Magno et al., 2017). Lastly,
bacterial filters and chamber seals are supposed to be changed periodically. The frequency of
replacing will be based on the sterilizer usage and the manufacturer's recommendations.
There are two main methods used to test the efficacy of the sterilization procedure. The first
one is Biological indicators testing where filter stripes are filled with Bacillus atrophaeus
spores (Magno et al., 2017). The second one is the chemical indicators which entail inserting
the colour changing strip in the sterilizer. If the strip changes colour, it is a sign that the
required conditions have been met. The significance of verifying quality assurance of
sterilization apparatus is to ensure proper sterilization of equipment and infection control.

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References
Draft, C. (2010). Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in
healthcare.
Magno, M., Ramos, A. R., Ghezzi, F., & Maier, K. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,721,464.
Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.