How to increase the life of your surgical instruments?

It is essential to keep surgical instruments clean to prevent infection. Sterilizing the tools before and after each use and keeping them clean will help reduce the risk of contamination.

 

Sterilization & Vaporization

The most common method of sterilization is through the use of steam. A sterilizer machine that creates steam under pressure and high temperature can kill any bacteria or viruses on instruments, so they're safe for surgery.

Vaporization methods include gaseous disinfectants like ethylene oxide gas or liquid chemical agents such as glutaraldehyde or hydrogen peroxide solution baths that are used to clean instruments before they go into an autoclave chamber for sterilization purposes

Handling

·        Do not touch the instruments with your bare hands.

·        Use gloves when handling surgical instruments, and change them often.

·        Use sterile drapes on all surfaces where you will place or handle instruments and on yourself (a surgical mask is not enough).

·        Create a sterile field by placing all equipment and supplies within 4 feet of the patient's operative site to prevent contamination from airborne pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that may be present in unsterile areas of the room such as door handles or light switches.

·        Place disposable trays around the patient for each procedure so that all items are readily accessible without having to move around much during surgery; this reduces the risk of transporting bacteria from one patient area to another during transport time between procedures.

Storage

The following tips will help you store your surgical instruments in a way that maintains their quality and longevity:

Surgical instruments should be stored in a clean, dry location, away from chemicals and other substances that could damage them over time. Avoid storing them next to adhesives; keep them out of direct sunlight! Moisture should also be avoided around where you choose to keep your surgical instruments--this includes humidity and water droplets on the surface where they are being held!

Disinfection

 

Disinfection is the process of killing microorganisms. Unlike sterilization, it does not eliminate all types of pathogens but only those that chemical agents can kill. Disinfection is used in hospitals and other healthcare settings to prevent infections between patients and staff members. Surgical instruments must be disinfected before they are used again on another patient.