耳鼻咽喉科外来における鋼製器具の効率的な洗浄

抄録

We examined efficient cleaning methods for steel instruments, i.e., aural speculum, nasal speculum, tongue depressor and forceps, and whether the use of any of these methods could skip cleaning instruments by hand at an otolaryngology outpatient clinic. The steel instruments that were used in the outpatient area and instruments contaminated with blood were cleaned either by hand, dipping in detergent, in a desk top washer-disinfector, or using an ultrasonic device. Before and after the cleaning, the remaining protein was measured by the Coomassie brilliant blue method. There were no significant differences in the residual amount of protein among the cleaning methods. The amount of residual protein was up to 60 μg per instrument. Except for those cleaned by hand, the amount of residual protein was below 30 μg per instrument for more than 90% of the instruments. Thus, steel instruments used at an otolaryngology outpatient clinic can be washed effectively by dipping them in detergent containing an enzyme cleaner, with no need for cleaning by hand. Instruments contaminated with blood can be expected to be cleaned securely and safely by both dipping in detergent containing an enzyme cleaner and ultrasonic cleaning.