Taking the time to properly clean and sterilize surgical instruments is imperative in ensuring patients do not get infections or other transmitted diseases. There are several ways to clean instruments that do the job well, though ultrasonic cleaning is the method most preferred for its simplicity, though manual cleaning is best for delicate or hinged instruments.
Instructions
Ultrasonic Cleaning
1. Rinse surgical instruments immediately after use under warm water to remove all debris and tissue.
2. Place instruments in detergent and let sit for 10 minutes.
3. Open the ultrasonic cleaning machine and fill the machine with solution one inch deep.
4. Remove the instrument from the detergent with the tongs, then submerge them in the machine making sure that sharp object's ends do not to touch other instruments. Allow the end of the tongs to sit in the solution as well to re-clean the end that was contaminated.
5. Run the ultrasonic machine making sure the instruments are submerged for the entire cycle of 5-10 minutes.
6. Remove objects with the tongs and rinse with ultrasonic cleaning water and allow to air dry in clean tray.
Manual Cleaning
7. Rinse instruments immediately after use.
8. Use a scrub brush under running water to remove all blood and tissue on the surfaces and in the joints.
9. Submerge the instrument in the detergent and allow to soak for 10 minutes.
10. Scrub your hands with detergent, making sure you scrub under fingernails.
11. Rinse the brush.
12. Remove the instrument and scrub with detergent.
13. Rinse the instruments under sterilized water and allow to dry.
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