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5
PREPARATION BEFORE STERILIZATION
The purpose of packaging and wrapping items for sterilization is to provide an
effective barrier against contamination during storage once the items have
been sterilized.
VERY IMPORTANT!
When sterilizing cotton wool or pads, it is essential to wrap them in paper or
cotton bags to prevent the multi-purpose valve and the autoclave openings
from becoming clogged with remnants of the material.
Packaging and wrapping materials should be approved for use in a steam
sterilizer and permit the removal of air and penetration of the steam during the
sterilization process.
The basic principle of determining the size, mass and contents of instrument
and hollowware packs is that the contents are sterile and dry immediately upon
completion of the drying cycle.
Instruments to be sterilized must be clean and free from any residual matter,
such as debris, blood, pads or any other material. Such substances may cause
damage to the instruments themselves or the sterilizer.
1.
Clean instruments immediately after use. It is recommended that
instruments be ultrasonically cleaned in a Tuttnauer
Clean and Simple
Ultrasonic Cleaner,
using Tuttnauer
Clean and Simple
enzymatic
cleaning solution.
2.
After ultrasonic cleaning, rinse under tap water for 30 seconds and pat or
air dry. If your tap water has a high mineral content, rinse a second time in
a bath of distilled water and pat dry with a cloth towel to remove residual
minerals.
3.
Launder textile wraps prior to reuse, but
do not
use bleach.
4.
Follow the instrument manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and
lubricating instruments.
5.
Be sure that instruments of dissimilar metal (stainless steel, carbon steel,
etc.) are separated. Carbon steel instruments should be bagged or placed
on autoclavable towels and not directly on stainless steel trays. (Mixing
will result in the oxidation of these metals).
6.
Load items within the boundaries of the tray so that they do not touch the
chamber walls or fall off when the tray is inserted into the autoclave. The
chamber walls are very hot; items that come into contact with the wall can
be damaged
7.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions as to the proper procedure for
sterilizing each item. The instrument manufacturer can give specific
information on proper sterilization temperature and sterilization time for
any item.
8.
Place a sterilization indicator in each tray or inside each wrapped pack.
9.
When using a paper / plastic bag, Tuttnauer recommends the use of a
Tuttnauer Pouch Rack. If a pouch rack is not available, then Tuttnauer
recommends placing the paper side down on the tray. Use single-use wraps
once only and discard after use.
