The decontamination process involves cleaning instruments to remove biological material (bioburden) like blood, tissue, and other contaminants. This step ensures instruments are safe for further inspection and sterilization. Sterilization occurs after cleaning, not during decontamination.
Stream sterilization, using an autoclave, is one of the most common and effective methods for sterilizing heat-tolerant instruments. The other options (e.g., alcohol immersion or UV light) are not suitable for achieving sterility required in medical settings.
Biological Indicators (BIs) contain highly resistant microorganisms and are used to validate the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A successful sterilization cycle will destroy the test microorganisms, confirming that the load is sterile.
The SPD focuses on cleaning, sterilizing, and organizing medical instruments. Patient diagnosis is performed by clinical staff, not the SPD. The SPD supports healthcare providers by ensuring instruments are ready for use.
A one-way flow prevents cross-contamination by ensuring that instruments move sequentially from dirty areas (decontamination) to clean areas (assembly, sterilization, and storage). This separation is crucial for maintaining sterility and reducing infection risks.
