8
I HANDLING AND CLEANING OF INSTRUMENTS
NOTE: Instruments must be thoroughly cleaned prior to placement in the sterilizer.
A. Handling
1.
Wear heavy rubber gloves while handling instruments. Clean gloved hands with a germicidal cleaner
(iodophor surgical scrub). Wash gloved hands well when instruments handling is complete.
2.
Transport soiled instruments on a tray to the cleanup area. Protect your hands from contact with soiled
instruments to prevent any serious infection.
3.
Sort out any nonsurgical devices or other instruments that cannot withstand immersion without rusting.
Refer to Table 2—1.
NOTE: Check manufacturer’s recommendations for individual items before autoclaving.
B. Cleaning
Items must be completely cleaned before sterilizing. Processing instruments with debris or blood contamina-
tion may result in staining and/or damage to instruments or sterilizer.
1.
Rinse instruments with hard stream of water immediately after use to remove debris. Handle soiled
instruments following procedure outlined in Section 2-1-A.
2. Wash instruments in an ultrasonic cleaner for five to 10 minutes immersed in a fresh solution of deter-
gent and distilled or demineralized water or a germicide solution. Follow manufacturer’s recommended
procedures. Clean all instruments in an open position.
NOTE: For best results, use a detergent specifically designed for use in an ultrasonic cleaner with a
neutral ph (7).
(Health Sonics, Pleasanton, CA; L&R, Kearny, NJ, or comparable brand). A Germicide, 2% glutaralde-
hyde or equivalent may also be used. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions for mixing and use.
Otherwise, unsatisfactory results and/or damage may occur. Discard and replace ultrasonic cleaning
solution daily.
3.
After cleaning, rinse instruments very thoroughly for 30 seconds in tap water. Then perform a final rinse
with distilled or demineralized water after the 30 second rinse to remove impurities found in most tap
water. Inspect instruments to ensure removal of all debris. Repeat cycle as necessary.
NOTE: To prevent staining, instruments should be rinsed with demineralized (distilled) water and dried.
After rinsing in tap water in areas with hard water (water with a high mineral/salt content), dry the instru-
ments. (Drying should not be a substitute for rinsing.) When autoclaving instruments which are not
stainless steel, use a corrosion inhibitor pre-dip for two or three minutes. (This may be 2% solution of
sodium nitrite in distilled water.) Allow the pre-dip to dry on the instruments without wiping.
4.
Follow the recommendations by the instrument manufacturer on the use of lubricating products after
instruments have been ultrasonically cleaned.
SECTION 2
PREPARATIONS FOR STERILIZATION
Table 2-1 ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR STEAM STERILIZATION
!
Straight stainless steel instruments
!
Surgical stainless steel hinged instruments.
!
Air powered instruments made for autoclaving e.g. hand pieces).
!
Heat resistant plastic items
!
Rubber gloves
!
Rubber tubing
!
Glass slabs, beakers and stones.
!
Gauze
!
Liquids
Summary of Contents for Magna-Clave
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