Sterile processing, the manner by which medical and surgical equipment is cleaned and sterilized prior to use, is one of the most important factors in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections. Without proper sterile processing, patients, employees, and anybody who comes into touch with used medical tools would be in danger of catching a disease.
When non-disposable instruments used in medical or surgical operations are transferred to a designated decontamination room and cleaned in a variety of methods to prepare them for reuse, sterile processing begins. When instruments are first brought to the decontamination room, they may be dismantled and manually cleaned with an enzymatic solution or detergent before being ultrasonic cleaned, washed, and packaged for sterilization. After sterilization, tools must be free of germs and suitable for reuse.
Central Sterile Processing Technicians are responsible for decontaminating, cleaning, processing, assembling, sterilizing, storing, and distributing medical equipment and supplies necessary for patient care, particularly during surgery. In avoiding infections, Central Sterile Processing Technicians play a vital role in patient care.
Technicians in central sterile processing are educated through a central sterile processing technician program in the concepts, techniques, and control of sterilization procedures. Sterile processing tech training also equips technicians with the learning of proper cleaning, processing, packing, distributing, storing, and inventory management of sterile items, instruments, trays, and equipment.
Hospitals undertake sterile processing in various ways, but the CDC has established criteria to guarantee that basic requirements are fulfilled regardless of hospital equipment and personnel changes.
Physical facilities, cleaning, packing, loading, storage, and monitoring are the six essential phases of sterile processing that must be maintained at a high level. Before instruments are moved on to the next step, the CDC specifies which cleaning chemicals and equipment may be used for each phase, how to identify whether sterilization has been effective, and what kind of inspections must be conducted.
Technicians in sterile processing must diligently maintain these standards to ensure their safety and that neither patients nor medical personnel is exposed to harmful infections.
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