Instrument Disinfection: Essential for Patient Safety (part 1)

What does Instrument Disinfection mean?

Instrument disinfection refers to the cleaning and decontamination of medical equipment and instruments before they are reused on another patient to kill harmful microorganisms from medical instruments and prevent the spread of infections.

What are the different types of Instruments?

The Spaulding classification system categorises instruments based on the risk of transmitting infections: critical, semi-critical, and non-critical.

• Critical instruments: Instruments that come into direct contact with sterile tissue or body cavities (e.g. surgical instruments).
• Semi-critical instruments: Instruments that come into contact with mucous membranes (e.g. endoscopes).
• Non-critical instruments: Instruments that come into contact with intact skin (e.g. blood pressure cuffs).

What are the different levels of Disinfection?

The level of disinfection required depends on the criticality of the instrument as determined by the Spaulding classification system, which is as follows:

• Sterilisation: Required for critical instruments, it is done using an autoclave (a machine that uses steam under pressure to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores on items that are placed inside a pressure vessel). Eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, e.g., Clostridium difficile spores.
• High-level disinfection: Required for semi-critical instruments, it eliminates all microbial life forms and, to some extent, spores.?For high-level disinfection, use Surface and Disinfectant Concentrate designed especially for the disinfection of high-risk areas like Bacillocid ? Special and a broad spectrum disinfectant for Instruments, Endoscopes & Anaesthesia Accessories like Glutihyde 2% and Glutihyde 2.45%.
• Low-level disinfection: Required for non-critical instruments, it reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level. Use a pH–neutral pre-cleaner concentrate like Bodedex? Forte.?

What role does CSSD Department play in preventing HAIs?

The CSSD (Central Sterile Supply Department) plays an important role in preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).?

CSSD is responsible for the decontamination, sterilisation, and distribution of medical instruments, devices, and equipment in hospitals.?

CSSD contributes to the prevention of HAIs in the following ways:

• Decontamination: The staff follow strict decontamination protocols to remove dirt, soil, and organic matter from medical instruments, devices, and equipment before sterilisation.
• Disinfection & Sterilization: It uses relevant disinfectants & sterilisation processes such as autoclaving, chemical sterilisation, and gas sterilisation to kill all microorganisms
• Quality control: It performs regular quality control checks to ensure that sterilisation processes are functioning correctly and producing sterile items.
• Infection Control Training: Their staff are trained on proper decontamination and sterilisation techniques to ensure that all items are appropriately disinfected
• Record-keeping: It maintains detailed records of all items processed, including the date and time of decontamination and sterilisation, to ensure that things are used within the appropriate time frame.

Conclusion:

Instrument disinfection is essential to patient safety, and proper processes must be followed to ensure that all medical instruments are free of pathogens.?

Following appropriate disinfection procedures can prevent the spread of infections, and patients can receive proper care. Use Raman & Weil products to achieve total safety!