The Role of Sterilized Equipment in Patient Care and Safety

This report emphasizes the critical role of sterilized medical equipment in healthcare to prevent infections and ensure patient safety. It highlights the detrimental effects of using unsterilized equipment, including the spread of infectious diseases, the potential for double surgeries, and the significant economic burden on healthcare systems. The report also discusses the correct methods for disposing of used equipment, particularly sharps, to minimize the risk of needlestick injuries and environmental pollution. It stresses the importance of using sharps disposal containers and the dangers of improper disposal, which can lead to the spread of viral infections like AIDS and Hepatitis B, as well as environmental contamination. The report references key sources like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Queensland Health, and Rutala & Weber to support its findings.

Importance of using sterilised equipment in the treatment of patients and ill effects
caused by negligent use.
The use of sterilised medical equipment in the treatment of patients is of utmost importance
in the practice in the field (Rutala & Weber, 2004). use of sterilised equipment prevents the
growth of microbes. Unsterilized equipment allows the build-up of bacteria and the
consequential transfer to the patient’s body. Using sterilized equipment ensures that the
transmission of infectious diseases is transmitted.
The use of unsterilized equipment during surgeries often lead to double surgeries. The initial
procedure often precipitates the growth of another infection that will need surgery later on to
remove it. Other than being costly, the whole process can cause life-threatening
complications.
Improperly sterilised equipment carries along significant effect on the overall health and
well-being of patients, and also causes a significant burden on the health system. Improper
sterilisation causes deaths of thousands of patients every year attributed to the transmission of
infectious diseases through the equipment (Rutala & Weber, 2004). Complications also arise
in many surgeries as a result of inadequate sterilization (Spagnolo, Ottira, Amiczia, Perdelli,
& Cristina, 2013). This has a significant economic cost on both individuals and the health
system as a whole.

Methods of disposing of used equipment (for example needles etc) in the right way and
the ill effects if not disposed correctly
Used equipment, especially sharps require appropriate disposal in order to reduce the risk of
needlestick injuries, cuts, and punctures. The most appropriate way to safely dispose of
sharps is the use of sharps disposal containers (Queensland Health and Organisational Health
Unit, 2012). Sharps containers are specially resigned receptacles which are rigid-walled,
puncture-proof and sealable. They are suited for handling various forms of sharps which may
include needles, blades, and glass items (unbroken) contaminated with biohazardous material.
Broken glass and sharp plastics are regarded as sharps waste but instead of being disposed of
in sharps disposal containers, they are disposed of in biohazardous waste receptacles. An
alternative disposal method of the equipment is encapsulation. The process involves filling
containers with sharps, followed by the addition of immobilizing materials such as lime and
cement, and then sealing them (International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2011). The
Red Cross, however, claims that the encapsulation of sharps is recommended in temporary
settings.
Improper disposal of medical equipment especially sharps increases the risk of spread of viral
infections such as AIDS and Hepatitis B. According to WHO, accidents attributed to sharps
cause over 66,000 hepatitis B infections and another 200 to 5,000 HIV infections among
healthcare workers (ICRC, 2011). Mismanagement of equipment waste also contributes to
environmental pollution. The equipment can be washed ashore waterbodies, or may also lead
to the accumulation of contaminants in landfills. Other than the increased risk of accidents,
they are unsightly in the environment.

References
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). (2011). Medical Waste Management.
Geneva: International Committee of the Red Cross .
Queensland Health and Organisational Health Unit . (2012, January). Health & Safety Fact
Sheet: Safe Handling & Disposal of NEedles and Syringes. Retrieved from
Queensland Health : http://education.qld.gov.au/health/pdfs/healthsafety/usedneedles-
factsheet.pdf
Rutala, W. A., & Weber, D. J. (2004). Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities:
What Clinicians Need to Know . Clinical Infectious Diseases, 702–709.
Spagnolo, A., Ottira, G., Amiczia, D., Perdelli, F., & Cristina, M. (2013). Operating theatre
quality and prevention of surgical site infections. J Prev Med Hyg, 131-137.