Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-cjp7w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T05:00:29.587Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Favero, MS, Bond, WW. Chemical disinfection of medical and surgical materials. In: Block, SS, ed. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger; 1991:617–641.Google Scholar
2. Spaulding, EH. Chemical disinfection of medical and surgical materials. In: Lawrence, CA, Block, SS, eds. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1968:517–531.Google Scholar
3. Simmons, BP. Guideline for hospital environmental control. Am J Infect Control 1983;11:97–115.Google Scholar
4. Block, SS. Definition of terms. In: Block, SS, ed. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1991:18–25.Google Scholar
5. Rutala, WA. Disinfection, sterilization and waste disposal. In: Wenzel, RP, ed. Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1993:460–495.Google Scholar
6. Garner, JS, Favero, MS. Guideline for handwashing and hospital environmental control, 1985. Am J Infect Control 1986;14:110–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Centers for Disease Control. Guidelines for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus to healthcare and public safety workers. MMWR 1989;38(S-6):1–37.Google Scholar
8. Rutala, WA, Clontz, EP, Weber, DJ, Hoffmann, KK. Disinfection practices for endoscopes and other semicritical items. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1991;12:282–288.Google Scholar
9. Rutala, WA. APIC guideline for selection and use of disinfectants. Am J Infect Control 1990;58:99–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates. Recommended guidelines for infection control in endoscopy settings. Rochester, NY: Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates; 1990.Google Scholar
11. Rutala, WA, Weber, DJ. Environmental issues and nosocomial infections. In: Farber, BF, ed. Infection Control in Intensive Care. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 1987:131–171.Google Scholar
12. Sattar, SA, Lloyd-Evans, N, Springthorpe, VS. Institutional outbreaks of rotavirus diarrhea: potential role of fomites and environmental surfaces as vehicles for virus transmission. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol 1986;96:277–289.Google Scholar
13. Rutala, WA, Weber, DJ. FDA labeling requirements for disinfection of endoscopes: a counterpoint. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1995;16:231–235.Google Scholar
14. Rutala, WA, APIC Guidelines Committee. APIC guideline for the selection and use of disinfectants. Am J Infect Control. In press.Google Scholar
15. Spach, DH, Silverstein, FE, Stamm, WE. Transmission of infection by gastrointestinal endoscopy and bronchoscopy. Ann Intern Med 1993;118:117–128.Google Scholar
16. Centers for Disease Control. Recommendations for prevention of HIV transmission in health-care settings. MMWR 1987;36(suppl):3S–18S.Google Scholar
17. Handsfield, HH, Cummings, MJ, Swenson, PD. Prevalence of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B surface antigen in blood samples submitted to a hospital laboratory: implications for handling specimens. JAMA 1987;258:3395–3397.Google Scholar
18. Kelen, GD, Fritz, S, Qaqish, B, et al. Unrecognized human immunodeficiency virus infection in emergency department patients. N Engl J Med 1988;318:1645–1650.Google Scholar
19. Taguchi, F, Tamai, Y, Uchida, K, et al. Proposal for a procedure for complete inactivation of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease agent. Arch Virol 1991;119:297–301.Google Scholar
20. Russell, AD, Hugo, WB, Ayliffe, GAJ. Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation and Sterilisation. Oxford, England: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1992.Google Scholar
21. Perkins, JJ. Principles and Methods of Sterilization in Health Sciences. 2nd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas; 1969.Google Scholar
22. American Society for Hospital Central Service Personnel. Ethylene oxide use in hospitals. Chicago, IL: American Hospital Association; 1982.Google Scholar
23. Association of Operation Room Nurses. Proposed recommended practices: sterilization. AORN J 1991;54:82–96.Google Scholar
24. Joslyn, L. Sterilization by heat. In: Block, SS, ed. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1991:495–526.Google Scholar
25. Caputo, RA, Odlaug, TE. Sterilization with ethylene oxide and other gases. In: Block, SS, ed. Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1983:47–64.Google Scholar
26. Mallison, GF. Decontamination, disinfection and sterilization. Nurs Clin North Am 1980;15:757–767.Google Scholar
27. Anonymous. Ethylene oxide sterilization: how hospitals can adapt to the changes. Health Devices 1994;23:485–492.Google Scholar
28. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 1994.Google Scholar