Devices used for treatment or surgery of a patient are stained with body fluid such as blood. In order to prevent infection and maintain smooth operation of devices, it is very important to remove these stains completely. In hospitals, such contamination occurs in the operation department, wards, and outpatient department. At present, many hospitals give devices a primary wash at each department and a secondary, more perfect wash and sterilization at the material handling department. However, this method involves a lot of manpower and carries a risk of diffusing contamination. In 1999, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that "The primary wash at each department should be abolished" as a guideline. Although it is rational to deal with devices collectively at the material handling department which is well-equipped and has a good knowledge of washing and sterilization, it is inevitable that there is a time lag from when devices are collected at each department to when they are washed at the material handling department. We know from our experience that it will become more difficult to remove contamination if contaminated devices dried before they are washed. In the present study, we confirmed the relationship between the dryness fraction of contaminated devices and washing ability, and studied washing abilities of spray by comparing three pre-wash sprays of different manufactures which had capability to decompose and moisturize contaminated devices. As a result, the cleanliness level was maintained by using pre-wash sprays, even after the devices were left as they were for 24 or 48 hours.
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