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Disinfection and Sterilization of Patient-Care Items

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Loreen A. Herwaldt  and
William A. Rutala
Loreen A. Herwaldt
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
William A. Rutala
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Abstract

This article provides recommendations on the preferred method for disinfection and sterilization of patient-care items based on the intended use of the item (ie, critical, semicritical, noncritical). The chemical disinfectants recommended for patient-care items and instruments include glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, alcohol, iodophors, phenolics, and quaternary ammonium compounds. The choice of disinfectant, concentration, and exposure time is based on the risk of infection associated with the use of the item. The sterilization methods briefly discussed include steam sterilization, ethylene oxide, dry heat, and the new low-temperature sterilization technologies. When properly used, these disinfection and sterilization processes can ensure the safe use of invasive and noninvasive medical devices. However, this requires strict adherence to current cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization guidelines.

Type
Practical Healthcare Epidemiology
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 17 , Issue 6 , June 1996 , pp. 377 - 384
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1996

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