KOHLER
REINIGUNG, STERILISATION UND PFLEGE VON INSTRUMENTEN
CLEANING, STERILISATION AND CARE OF INSTRUMENTS
N E T T O YA G E , S T É R I L I S A T I O N E T E N T R E T I E N D E S I N S T R U M E N T S
LIMPIEZA, ESTERILIZACIÓN Y MANTENIMIENTO DE LOS INSTRUMENTOS
A detailed “step-by-step” description of a validated process
for preparing resterilisable medical devices (compliant with
ISO 17664, in the current valid version) is available on our
website.
Instruments are non-sterile on delivery and must always
be cleaned and sterilised before first use, every further use
and before returning for repair, maintenance or service. This
excludes products that are marked as “sterile”.
Every instrument should be visually checked before each use.
Check in particular for cracks, fractures, deformation, stiffness
– also especially in areas like blades, tips, closures, locks,
notches and all moveable parts. Worn, corroded, deformed,
porous or otherwise damaged instruments must be removed.
If the instrument has been disassembled, ensure perfect
functioning and all screws and parts are securely fitted after
assembly.
Instruments should be prepared by medically, specially and
practically trained and qualified personnel. Used and contam-
inated instruments should only be handled using protective
gloves.
Sealed containers should be used for transporting instruments
to the preparation location to avoid damaging the instruments
or contaminating the environment.
Instruments should be cleaned and disinfected immediately
after use to avoid contamination drying onto the instrument.
Do not use any fixation agent or hot water (<40˚C), as this
could result in fixation of residues and negatively influence the
effectiveness of cleaning.
Effective cleaning and disinfection is a prerequisite for
successful sterilisation. Ensure that only validated processes
are used for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation; that the
devices used such as automatic cleaning unit, disinfector and
steriliser are regularly maintained and checked and that the
validated parameters are observed with every cycle.
Follow the operating and loading instructions of the manu-
facturer and also the dispensing instructions for the recom-
mended cleaning agent for the respective intended application.
Only use approved agents and observe the applicable legal and
hygiene regulations in your country.
The instruments are manufactured from steels according to
DIN EN ISO 7153-1 and their alloy forms specific passive
layers as a protective layer, which only has limited resistance
to the use of chloride ions and aggressive media and cleaning
agents.
Cleaning and disinfecting agents may NOT contain the follow-
ing ingredients:
· organic, mineral or oxidising acids
· stronger leaches (> pH 11, mild alkaline cleaners recom-
mended)
· halogenated hydrocarbons, chlorine, iodine
· organic solvents (alcohol, acetone etc.)
· ammonia
Both pH neutral and mild alkaline cleaning agents can be used.
Pre-cleaning:
Highly contaminated instruments or instruments with, e.g.
areas difficult to access, grooves, hollow bodies, blind holes
etc. should be pre-cleaned. Please note our separate, detailed
description compliant with ISO 17664 in the currently valid
version.
Manual cleaning:
Mechanical cleaning should always be given preference to
manual cleaning, as mechanical cleaning procedures can be
standardised.
Thoroughly rinse off surface contamination under running
water. Remove blood and other residue using a soft brush
(e.g. Art. No. 6788, Page 414) and a neutral or mild alkaline
cleaning agent. Do not use metal brushes. Thoroughly clean
all moveable parts. Instruments with hinges should be cleaned
in the closed and opened position.
Mechanical cleaning:
Instruments with hinges (pliers, scissors, needle holders
etc.) should be fully opened and fixed in the open position in
KOHLER Steritrays or loaded directly into the cleaning unit.
Instruments that can be dismantled should be disassembled
as much as possible. Instruments should be arranged to allow
water to drain from needles, blind holes and hollow bodies.
Do not overload Steritrays. Ensure that instruments are stored
correctly to ensure that there is no rinse residue.
Only use fully desalinated / distilled water for the final rinse
cycle to avoid spots, coating or corrosion on the instruments.
Disinfection:
Mechanical thermal disinfection taking into account national
A0 value requirements.