Chapter 13: Sterilization & Disinfection
Purpose is to prevent transmission of microbes to patients.
Standard precautions should be used in interaction with all patients:
These precautions include
(1) hand hygiene,
(2) respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette,
(3) safe injection practices,
(4) proper disposal of needles and scalpels.
If exposure to body fluids or aerosols is likely, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as
masks or face shields, gloves, gowns, and protective eyewear should be used.
Transmission based precautions:
- three categories of transmission based precautions are contact, droplet, and airborne
- Precautions employed based on a patient being suspected to be infected with a highly
transmissible organism.
PRINCIPLES OF STERILIZATION & DISINFECTION
Sterilization is the killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, which
are highly resistant to heat and disinfectants.
Carried out by:
Autoclaving, which consists of exposure to steam at 121°C under a pressure for 15 minutes.
Surgical instruments that can be damaged by moist heat are usually sterilized by exposure to
ethylene oxide gas
, Intravenous solutions are sterilized by filtration.
Disinfection is reducing the number of bacteria to a level low enough that disease is unlikely to
occur, bacterial spores may survive.
Antiseptics: Chemicals used to kill microorganisms on the surface of skin and mucous
membranes.
CHEMICAL AGENTS:
Purpose is to prevent transmission of microbes to patients.
Standard precautions should be used in interaction with all patients:
These precautions include
(1) hand hygiene,
(2) respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette,
(3) safe injection practices,
(4) proper disposal of needles and scalpels.
If exposure to body fluids or aerosols is likely, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as
masks or face shields, gloves, gowns, and protective eyewear should be used.
Transmission based precautions:
- three categories of transmission based precautions are contact, droplet, and airborne
- Precautions employed based on a patient being suspected to be infected with a highly
transmissible organism.
PRINCIPLES OF STERILIZATION & DISINFECTION
Sterilization is the killing or removal of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, which
are highly resistant to heat and disinfectants.
Carried out by:
Autoclaving, which consists of exposure to steam at 121°C under a pressure for 15 minutes.
Surgical instruments that can be damaged by moist heat are usually sterilized by exposure to
ethylene oxide gas
, Intravenous solutions are sterilized by filtration.
Disinfection is reducing the number of bacteria to a level low enough that disease is unlikely to
occur, bacterial spores may survive.
Antiseptics: Chemicals used to kill microorganisms on the surface of skin and mucous
membranes.
CHEMICAL AGENTS:
