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Medical devices that have contact with sterile body tissues or fluids are considered critical items. These items should be sterile when used because any microbial contamination could result in disease transmission. Such items include surgical instruments, biopsy forceps, and implanted medical devices.
During production of a drug, all work area surfaces must be disinfected using sterilized disinfectants. Disinfectants destroy all microbes present on a surface. Disinfectants are used to inhibit or destroy pathogens. Disinfection can occur by physical or chemical means.
The laboratory sterilization method of choice in most labs is autoclaving: using pressurized steam to heat the material to be sterilized. This is a very effective method that kills all microbes, spores, and viruses, although, for some specific bugs, especially high temperatures or incubation times are required.
Classical sterilization techniques using saturated steam under pressure or hot air are the most reliable and should be used whenever possible. Other sterilization methods include filtration, ionizing radiation (gamma and electron-beam radiation), and gas (ethylene oxide, formaldehyde).
Sterilization describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life and is carried out in health-care facilities by physical or chemical methods. Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects (Tables 1 and 2).
Sterilization can be achieved by a combination of heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure and filtration like steam under pressure, dry heat, ultraviolet radiation, gas vapor sterilants, chlorine dioxide gas etc.
Ethylene Oxide
Uses. Alcohols are not recommended for sterilizing medical and surgical materials principally because they lack sporicidal action and they cannot penetrate protein-rich materials.
relatively painless (usually used with sedation) and quick procedure. eliminates risk of complications from anesthesia and surgery. need for post-procedure care and observation is minimal.
Disadvantages. Special handling because of flammability, toxicity. Long sterilization and decontamination time. Potential health hazard; fumes must be monitored.
Formaldehyde is widely used fixative. Its advantages are low cost, simplicity of use and good fixation traits, which are fast tissue penetration, good preservation of morphological structures and compatibility with downstream histological applications. Formaldehyde disadvantages are negative effects on nucleic acids.
There are several limitations with liquid chemical sterilization. Although the rinse water is treated to minimize any bioburden, it is not sterile. Because the rinse water is not sterile, devices rinsed with this water cannot be assured to be sterile.
Benefits of Liquid Chemical Sterilization Liquid chemical sterilization provides a higher level of microbial kill assurance for heat-sensitive medical devices compared to high-level disinfection.
about 4 h and 15 m
improper instrument cleaning or packaging and sterilizer malfunction. What are the limitations of chemical liquid sterilants. requires 10 hours of contact time; anything less than 10 hours is disinfection, not sterilization.
What is a primary disadvantage of flash sterilization? instruments are sterilized while unpackaged, and they are no longer sterile once removed from the sterilizer so cannot be packaged. if the sterilizing agent does not come in contact with the item for the proper time.
The most effictive way to sterilize liquids is to heat them in an autoclave or a pressure cooker. But in some cases-especially for media with at least 10% salt-boiling is sufficient.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) newer term for material data sheets; required for each hazardous chemical in a facility.
Terms in this set (20) instruments in packages should remain sterile indefinitely unless an event causes them to become contaminated. OSHA’S newer term for material ate sheets. Safety data sheets are required for each hazardous chemical facility.
The SDS includes information such as the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are summary documents that provide information about the hazards of a product and advice about safety precautions. SDSs are usually written by the manufacturer or supplier of the product.
How To Read a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
To obtain SDS, get them from the manufacturer.
There is no difference between an MSDS and an SDS, as both are generic terms for safety data sheets. A GHS compliant safety data sheet is an SDS but not an MSDS.
There are only two words used as signal words, “Danger” and “Warning.” Within a specific hazard class, “Danger” is used for the more severe hazards and “Warning” is used for the less severe hazards.
The pictogram on the label is determined by the chemical hazard classification. The simple fact to keep in mind is that if it is a hazardous chemical or product, a safety data sheet will be required. If it is a manufactured product, the odds of an SDS existing may be slim.