Sterilization & Disinfection

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March 2025
Home Sterilization & Disinfection

New guideline focuses on high-level disinfection safety

The new year brings a newly updated Guideline for Manual Chemical High-Level Disinfection (formerly the Guideline for High-Level Disinfection). This AORN guideline, which is based on a comprehensive, systematic review of research- and non-research-based evidence, recommends best practices for safe and effective high-level disinfection (HLD) performed manually when automated methods…

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By: Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS
February 22, 2018
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Testing reprocessing procedures with PCR based method

Editor's Note A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sampling method for monitoring reprocessing of colonoscopes was successfully applied in this multicenter Italian study. PCR allowed identification of contaminated (59) and fully reprocessed (52) colonoscopes in 10 endoscopy units with high sensibility (98 %) and specificity (98%), within 3 to 4…

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By: Judy Mathias
February 8, 2018
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Study: Manual, automated cleaning equally effective for laparoscopes

Editor's Note In this experimental laboratory study, all cleaning and rinsing methods tested were effective in reducing the levels of organic residues on laparoscopic instruments. Four methods were examined: manual-only cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water manual cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water, followed by ultrasonic cleaning without…

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By: Judy Mathias
January 24, 2018
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Greater vigilance needed to combat ureteroscope contamination

A new study by Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota) is the latest to raise concerns about infections associated with endoscopic procedures. The study, which focused on ureteroscopes, found that the techniques used to clean and sterilize or high-level disinfect flexible ureteroscopes are not sufficient and leave behind contamination including…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, RN
November 15, 2017
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Latest steam sterilization standard available from AAMI

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in September released the newest version of the ANSI/AAMI ST 79 Comprehensive Guide to Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance in Healthcare Facilities. This document, last updated in 2013, has been under a major review for changes in the format presentation and…

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By: Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS
November 15, 2017
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VA notifies 526 patients at risk from improperly cleaned scopes

Editor's Note The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Buffalo, New York, is notifying 526 patients that they may be at risk of infection from improperly cleaned endoscopes, the August 16 Buffalo News reports. A recent hospital review of endoscope disinfection processes found that steps in the manufacturer’s instructions may not…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 21, 2017
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AAHC releases toolkit on endoscope reprocessing

Editor's Note The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care on July 25 released a new toolkit that focuses on flexible endoscope reprocessing failures. The toolkit is designed to help eliminate failures or lapses in reprocessing through detailed guidelines and checklists in order to mitigate the risk of patient infections. The…

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By: Judy Mathias
August 1, 2017
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Economic benefits of low-temperature vs steam sterilization of endoscopes

Editor's Note This Australian study finds it is a good economic decision for large healthcare facilities to invest in low-temperature systems for sterilization of steam-sterilizable endoscopes. Increased costs associated with low-temperature systems were outweighed by savings from fewer instrument repairs. Based on their calculations, the researchers estimated a savings of…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 29, 2017
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Alcohol fixation of bacteria to instruments increases cleaning difficulty

Editor's Note Treating contaminated surgical instruments with alcohol, allowing them to dry, or allowing them to soak in water for extended periods of time increases cleaning difficulty and may contribute to sterilization inefficacy, this study finds. Soaking or spraying instruments with alcohol significantly reduced viable bacterial numbers, but significantly increased…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 27, 2017
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Joint Commission: HLD, sterilization top challenges for ambulatory health care

Editor's Note Leading the Joint Commission’s Top Ten Challenging Standards for accredited ambulatory health care organizations during the past year was infection control standard IC.02.02.01, EP 2: The organization reduces the risk of infections associated with medical equipment, devices, and supplies by performing a high-level disinfection and sterilization. In 2016,…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 27, 2017
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