Surgical Instrument Washers Washer Disinfectors
Provide the Prerequisite for Sterilizing Surgical Instruments
"Proper Sequence of Washer Disinfector Treatments"

"complete removal of all pathogens"
"the efficacy of disinfection was 100%"

John Temple
John Prohonic
Product Development
Washer Disinfectors
Summary : Properly Designed Washer Disinfectors and Surgical Instrument Washers are designed to clean all surfaces thoroughly, thereby providing the critical prerequisite for the safe handling, disinfecting, and the sterilizing of surgical instruments.  

Critical cleaners, usually referred to as Surgical Instrument Washer Decontaminators Washer Disinfectors, perform pre-wash, ultrasonic (optional), detergent washing, purified water elevated temperature rinsing, lubrication and high temperature drying in such a manner as to provide thoroughly clean, stain free and lubricated medical devices. Surgical Instruments cannot be sterilized (be sterile) unless all exposed surfaces are properly cleaned, prior to sterilization, to remove soil (debris, bioburden) and properly rinsed to prevent staining.1,2,3  Not all Washer Decontaminators Washer Disinfectors provide adequate pre-rinsing, pre-cleaning, purified water rinsing, and thereby render higher rejection rates of processed surgical instruments. 4,5.

The "Proper Sequence of Washer Treatments"
delivered by the Washer Disinfector Surgical Instrument Washer Decontaminator
Design Secures Performance

The proper sequence of treatment and the correct choice of time, temperature and the components used are necessary to render surgical instruments that are critically clean, safe to handle, and have the prerequisite for sterilization. 6,7,8.
Washer Disinfectors  and Surgical Instrument Washers can provide
the Proper Sequence of Treatments.
Washer Disinfectors can deliver effective cleaning.
Washer Decontaminators Washer Disinfectors employ a cold water pre-wash to remove gross debris.  This removes proteins and lipids, preventing them from being baked onto devices during the high temperature treatments to follow. 9, 10.  Then, the ultrasonic process creates millions of micro implosions to loosen and free debris from lock boxes, hinge pins, serrations and other difficult-to-access surface areas. 

The Washer Decontaminators Washer Disinfectors detergent wash then applies high flow low pressure water with a cleaning concentrate (at ~ 135 degrees F) in such a manner as to evenly reach all areas of the load and strip bioburden from the surgical instruments.  The elevated temperature (at ~ 194 to 209 degrees F) purified water final rinse secures the biocidal process, removes mineral deposits from prior cycles and lubricates the instruments. The high temperature (at ~ 158 to 230 degrees F) dry cycle presents heated, forced air which dries each device.  The critical cleaned medical devices are now clean, safe to handle, have the prerequisite for sterilization, and are properly prepared for further reprocessing. 

Surgical Instrument Washers Washer Disinfectors achieve the Complete Removal of Pathogens
The Washington University School of Medicine at Washington University Medical Center examined the performance of a properly designed Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector (CESCO washer Decontaminator Model 520) and found that it removed all organisms from the surgical instruments tested.  11

Surgical Instrument Washer Washer Disinfectors was tested for its ability to complete remove pathological organism from surgical instruments.
Pure cultures of the following organisms were grown on appropriate agar plates:

1. Staphylococcus aureus;
2. Pseudomonas aerations;
3. Escherichia coli;
4. Bacillus species

Kelly clamps, tweezers and scissors wee placed on these plates of organism, taking care to ensure that all serrated edges were packed with all the organisms.  Each contaminated instrument was then dipped into the tube of Thiogycolate medium before being placed in all the washer baskets.  The instruments were then processed through the complete Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector cycle.  At the end of the drying cycle, the instruments were allowed to cool and then dipped into another tube of Thioglycolate medium.     

Surgical Instrument Washers Washer Disinfectors Performance Results

All tubes of the Thioglycoate medium tested before the wash grew the appropriate organism within six to 18 ours after testing.  All tubes tested at the end of the wash showed no growth after 14 days of incubation. This Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector removed all organisms from the instruments. 

Surgical Instrument Washers Washer Disinfectors
Efficacy of Disinfection 100%

Another evaluation of Washer Decontaminators Washer Disinfectors confirmed that the efficacy of disinfection was 100%.  In this study, L.P. Jette and N.G. Lambert used two test methods.12   One method (N) was to test the effect of heat only within the disinfection process and the other test method (G) was to test the efficacy of both heat and washing.  Each method gave reproducible results and confirmed the efficacy of the Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector.

Surgical Instrument Washers Washer Disinfectors
Critical Cleaners Will Work for You

Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector Critical cleaners demonstrated the ability to completely remove pathological organisms with effective repeatability.  There operation is automatic, reliable, labor saving and easy to use.  Central Processing departments rarely find the need to manually treat devices and report an  exceptionally low rate of rejected devices. 

Conclusion

The Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector "Proper Sequence of Washer Treatments": cold water pre-wash, ultrasonic cleaning, detergent washing action, elevated temperature final rinses, and elevated temperature hot air drying delivered by a properly designed Surgical instrument Washer Decontaminator Washer Disinfector Critical Cleaner will provide critical cleaning, the prerequisite for safe handling, optimal disinfecting, and sterilizing of medical devices.

References
1. Peggy Ryan, RN, “Concepts of Cleaning Technologies and Processes,” Journal of Healthcare Material Management, (Nov./Dec. ’87), pp. 20-27.
2. Marimargaret Reichert, RN, “processing Reusable Medical Devices, “Journal of Hospital Material Management, p. 40.
3. Training Manual for Central Service Technicians, American Society for Central Services Personnel of the American Hospital Association, (Chicago, IL, 1986), p. 69.
4. Ryan, op. cit.
5. Training Manual for Central Service Technicians, op. cit.
6.  Ryan, op. cit.
7. Interview with Charles A. Reed, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University Medical Center, Dec. 1985.
8.  L.P. Jette’and N.G.Lambert, “Evaluation of Two Hot Water Washer Disinfectors for Medical Instruments, “ Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, Vo.1 9, No. 5, (1988), pp. 194-199.
9. Training Manual for Central Service Technicians, op. cit.
10.  Ryan, op. cit.
11.  Ryan, op. cit.
12. L.P. Jette’and N.G.Lambert, op.cit.

NOTE:
Surgical Instrument Washers used in this research study were manufactured by CESCO, Mercersburg PA. Although these Surgical Instrument Washers (Tunnel Washers with automated Ultrasonic Cleaners) are not currently available. The studies demonstrate the propensity for Surgical Instrument Washers to deliver optimal cleaning results.

The surgical instrument cleaners used in these studies are currently available in the form of the all-in-ONE combination enzymatic enzyme detergent surgical instrument cleaners. A critical component for optimal cleaning is using the best possible "surgical instrument cleaners". Recent European studies have illustrated and concluded that combination enzymatic enzyme detergent surgical instrument cleaners are more effective than conventional surgical instrument cleaners. The research was initiated to deactivate prions deactivating prions within the objective to prevent CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). 

Nothing cleans faster than the UPS-1 Enzyme Washer Disinfector Detergent.
Nothing will lower your surgical instrument cleaning costs as much as the UPS-1
Enzyme Washer Disinfector Detergent, and we guarantee it.

Washer Disinfectors  and Surgical Instrument Washers can provide the Proper Sequence of Treatments.
Washer Disinfectors can deliver effective cleaning.
Washer Disinfectors Surgical Instrument Washers 
Studies demonstrate that Washer Disinfectors Surgical Instrument Washers can deliver optimal cleaning using a 'combination' mechanical and chemical "Proper Sequence of Treatments". After surgical instruments were cleaned in Washer Disinfectors or Surgical Instrument Washers using a 4 enzyme detergent: "the efficacy of disinfection was 100%", "removed all pathogens", and "All instruments and utensils tested were sterile at the completion of the process." Click here to go to studies.
The "Proper Sequence of Washer Treatments"
includes a series of Washer Disinfector mechanical and Washer Disinfector chemical treatments formulated with enzyme cleaners, surfactant detergents, surface conditioners and lubricants.
Tabletop Sterilizers with Flash Sterilizer Cycle
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning fast.
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning fast.
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning
Surgical Instrument Cleaners cleaning
Surgical Instrument Cleaners
Surgical Instrument Cleaners
Washer Disinfectors