Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities
Medical devices are sterilized before being used for invasive clinical procedures such as surgery, to prevent pathogen transfer. Failure to sterilize medical devices properly presents a risk of healthcare-associated infections. Studies and reports have indicated that inadequately sterilized medical...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2019-10-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11433 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850148228219011072 |
|---|---|
| author | Gopal Panta Ann K Richardson Ian C Shaw |
| author_facet | Gopal Panta Ann K Richardson Ian C Shaw |
| author_sort | Gopal Panta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Medical devices are sterilized before being used for invasive clinical procedures such as surgery, to prevent pathogen transfer. Failure to sterilize medical devices properly presents a risk of healthcare-associated infections. Studies and reports have indicated that inadequately sterilized medical devices are one of the causes of a higher rate of healthcare-associated infections in developing countries. Steam sterilization (autoclaving) is the most widely used method for sterilization and is considered the most robust and cost-effective method for sterilization of medical devices. The effectiveness of steam sterilization can be measured using biological indicators. A literature search was undertaken to understand the effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities across the globe. Studies using biological indicators for measuring the effectiveness of autoclaving were obtained. Failures of steam sterilization practices were identified and discussed as a means of identifying factors that might be associated with the ineffectiveness of steam sterilization practices between different countries. The number of studies measuring the effectiveness of steam sterilization is small, and few evaluate the effectiveness of steam sterilization specifically in developing countries. There are fewer studies on higher level healthcare facilities than dental facilities. More evidence about the effectiveness of autoclaving in healthcare facilities is needed to draw firm conclusions, but the data suggest that there are inadequacies in autoclave procedures and operator education.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6afa4cd827584829b7f8eb017f2d91d7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-6afa4cd827584829b7f8eb017f2d91d72025-08-20T02:27:18ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802019-10-01131010.3855/jidc.11433Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilitiesGopal Panta0Ann K Richardson1Ian C Shaw2School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandSchool of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandSchool of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Medical devices are sterilized before being used for invasive clinical procedures such as surgery, to prevent pathogen transfer. Failure to sterilize medical devices properly presents a risk of healthcare-associated infections. Studies and reports have indicated that inadequately sterilized medical devices are one of the causes of a higher rate of healthcare-associated infections in developing countries. Steam sterilization (autoclaving) is the most widely used method for sterilization and is considered the most robust and cost-effective method for sterilization of medical devices. The effectiveness of steam sterilization can be measured using biological indicators. A literature search was undertaken to understand the effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities across the globe. Studies using biological indicators for measuring the effectiveness of autoclaving were obtained. Failures of steam sterilization practices were identified and discussed as a means of identifying factors that might be associated with the ineffectiveness of steam sterilization practices between different countries. The number of studies measuring the effectiveness of steam sterilization is small, and few evaluate the effectiveness of steam sterilization specifically in developing countries. There are fewer studies on higher level healthcare facilities than dental facilities. More evidence about the effectiveness of autoclaving in healthcare facilities is needed to draw firm conclusions, but the data suggest that there are inadequacies in autoclave procedures and operator education. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11433Steam Sterilizationbiological indicatorshealthcare-associated infectionsevaluation |
| spellingShingle | Gopal Panta Ann K Richardson Ian C Shaw Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Steam Sterilization biological indicators healthcare-associated infections evaluation |
| title | Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| title_full | Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| title_short | Effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| title_sort | effectiveness of autoclaving in sterilizing reusable medical devices in healthcare facilities |
| topic | Steam Sterilization biological indicators healthcare-associated infections evaluation |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11433 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gopalpanta effectivenessofautoclavinginsterilizingreusablemedicaldevicesinhealthcarefacilities AT annkrichardson effectivenessofautoclavinginsterilizingreusablemedicaldevicesinhealthcarefacilities AT iancshaw effectivenessofautoclavinginsterilizingreusablemedicaldevicesinhealthcarefacilities |