The significance and practice of cleaning surgical instruments

Abstract

Discovery of sterilization has been an epoch-making in the history of surgical medicine. In order to ensure sterilization, it is important to reduce the number of microorganisms originally attached by cleaning in advance. It can be considered that an instrument that has not been cleaned cannot be sterilized. In recent years, the number of instruments that are difficult to be cleaned has increased. In principle, it should be cleaned with a washer-disinfector, but manual cleaning such as brushing or dipping may be required. Ultrasonic cleaning is also an effective cleaning method. Regularly and when needed, assessments of cleaning are essential. If you want a safe instrument as a surgeon, you should know about cleaning and sterilization of the instruments you use. The central sterile service department (CSSD) is essential for the operation rooms that produces the greatest profit in the medical facility, and is also important in terms of infection control and safety management. Surgeons have the right and responsibility to seek improvements in the CSSD. This is because it is directly related to the improvement of surgical outcome. When the CSSD was unreliable, surgical treatment is not possible.