HOW TO DECONTAMINATE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS?
Washer Steriliser
The washer-sterilizer operates much the same as the steam
sterilizer.
The washer-sterilizer sends large amounts of soapy
water over the instruments.
Steam under pressure and air are then injected into the water, which activates the water significantly.
As the water is drained from the chamber, tissue debris and scum are filtered off and steam fills the entire chamber.
The temperature is then maintained at 270oF for 3 minutes.
Near the completion of the cycle, the steam is released
through the exhaust system.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Following processing in the washer-sterilizer, all instruments
should be placed in the ultrasonic cleaner.
This process further removes particles and debris through a process called cavitation.
During cavitation, high frequency sound waves are generated
through a water bath in which the instruments are placed along
with a neutral to slightly alkaline detergent.
Cavitation explode inwardly (implosion), and this causes their release from the surface of the instrument.
Following cavitation, instruments are rinsed thoroughly and dried.
WHAT ARE DISPOSAL MEDICAL WASTE?
The operation of a single surgical OT generates a large amount
of medical waste.
Among these are:
* gloves
* gowns
* backtable covers
* patient drapes
* needles and other sharps
* body fluids and secretions
* and other items that must be disposed of.
The types of regulated waste from health care facilities.
* These are radioactive waste, which is regulated by the
Nuclear Regulation Agency
* Hazardous chemical waste, which is regulated by environmental
protection agency
* The third type is potential infective waste, are for
the purpose of this text will be referred to as regulated
medical waste.
CATEGORIES OF MEDICAL WASTE
Sharps (used and unused)
Discarded medical devices that have been used in human
patient care, medical research, or industrial laboratories and
that are capable of pucturing or cutting the skin and thus
transmitting bacterial or virus infections.
This includes:
* needles
* syringes with needles attached
* trocars
* pipettes
* scalpel blades
* blood vials
* broken or unbroken glassware
Cultures and stocks of infectious wastes
Discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated
microbiologicals should be considered regulated medical waste.
Animal Waste
Discarded material originating from animals inoculated with
infectious agents during research or production of biological or
pharmaceutical testing.
Pathological waste
Discarded pathological wastes (eg. human tissues, organs, body
parts) removed during surgery, autopsy or other medical
procedures
Human blood, blood products, body fluids
This category includes discarded free-flowing human blood and
blood products (eg. plasma, serum), any free-flowing body
Secretion containing blood components (egg. pleural, peritoneal,
Amniotic fluid), human excretions (egg. urine, stool)
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