Nathalie Q.

Carugda BSN-1B

“Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care

Facilities: What Clinicians Need to Know”
By: William A. Rutala and David J. Weber

“Overview of the Article”

The danger of infection is obviously much increased if the surgical
instruments and the person using them are not cleaned and sterilized. Users
must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of various methods when
choosing a sterilization or disinfection treatment. By implementing these
recommendations, healthcare facilities should improve their cleaning and
sterilization processes, reducing the risk of infections brought on by
contaminated patient-care supplies.

“Lessons and Insights”

Sterilization and disinfection reduce the number of microorganisms on
surfaces. A product's or substance's surface can be modified to make it usable
in a medical setting. Medical facilities must follow tight protocols when
handling surgical equipment or devices that come into touch with humans,
especially in sterile bodily cavities. These medical devices are grouped into
three categories based on how vital they are to patient care.

There is a significant risk of infection if a crucial item is contaminated with any

microorganism, particularly bacterial spores. Because any microbial
contamination might trigger the spread of illness, it is essential to sterilize
everything that enters sterile tissue or the circulatory system. As a result, these
goods need to be sanitized carefully or properly since they might spread
illnesses or infections.

Semicritical items are those that come into contact with injured skin or
mucous membranes. Diaphragm-fitting rings, certain endoscopes,
laryngoscope blades, esophageal manometry probes, and anorectal
manometry catheters are all included in this group. Anesthesia equipment and
respiratory treatment are also included. Deep sterilizing and disinfecting these
items are still important even though they are not as important as the critical
item because intact mucous membranes, such as those of the digestive tract or
lungs, are susceptible to infection by bacteria, mycobacteria, and viruses but
typically resistant to infection by common bacterial spores.
 Items are categorized as noncritical if they only come into touch with
healthy skin and not mucous membranes. Since intact skin effectively blocks
the majority of infections, it is not necessary for things in contact with intact
skin to be sterile. The beds on which patients sleep, together with its
accessories like bed rails, sheets, and mattresses, as well as the patients'
furnishings, the floor, bedside tables, chairs, and other objects, are examples
of non-critical goods. The patient will spend the most of their time with these
goods, thus it is still crucial to sterilize them because if they are contaminated
with infection-causing bacteria, the patient might become unwell.

The technique that has been authorized for sanitizing, sterilizing, or

cleaning endoscopes and the equipment that goes with them is known as
"endoscope reprocessing." A sort of inspection equipment called an endoscope
is used to look deeply within the body through openings like the mouth or
anus. Because these devices are introduced into some sections of our bodies
and are exposed to the internal portions of our bodies, which will make our
bodies susceptible to these illnesses, they should be fully cleaned and
sterilized. If not, this can result in serious infections and diseases.

“Conclusion”
That we as future nurses, or even Student nurses must always ensure the
cleanliness and sterility of the tools and equipment’s that we will be using on
our patients. To ensure the safety or their health and well-being it general, and
to avoid necessary complications that we can prevent. At the same time ensuring
our own safety at all time. And that cleaning should always precede high-level
disinfection and sterilization. Current disinfection and sterilization guidelines
must be strictly followed.