Using sterile products is key to keeping your patients or staff safe from infections. Sterile processing supplies help disinfect medical instruments to increase safety at healthcare facilities. They protect the quality and efficiency of the tools.
Below are some of the best supplies and accessories you need.
Sterilization Cycle Testers
Sterilization cycle indicators assure that the autoclave and sterilizers are working well. These sterile processing products seek to improve the efficiency of any sterilization process. They test all steam gravity cycles and other low-temperature sterilizers before:
- Usage
- Installation
- Relocation
- Repair
- Sterilization failure
Two Types of Sterilization Cycle Indicators
- Biological Indicators. They help track and detect tough-to-kill microbes that may hinder the sterilization process. Some of these microbes include bacterial spores and geobacillus stearothermophilus. Biological indicators help maintain apt conditions that kill such microorganisms to enhance efficiency.
- Chemical Indicators. These products respond to one or several physical inhibitors within the sterilization chamber. They track all aspects of sterilization to meet your quality assurance goals.
When harmful bacteria and chemical contaminants are present, the color of biological and chemical indicators changes from rose to brown. Here are some of the popular applications for biological and chemical indicators:
- Dry heat sterilization
- Steam sterilization processes
- Pre-vacuum sterilizers
- ETO (Ethylene oxide) sterilization processes
- VHP bio-decontamination units
Cleaning Supplies and Accessories
Cleaning sterilizers help remove foreign materials that may affect the sterilization process. They serve as a protective barrier to the core parts of your sterilization equipment.
Decontamination agents help keep sensitive surgical instruments and sterilizers clean after use. They are ideal for manual pre-cleaning, automated reprocessing, and soaking sensitive surgical tools. Some of the popular types of cleaning supplies for your sterilization process include:
- Ultrasonic washer
- Washer disinfector
- Washer-sterilizer
- Dishwasher
- Scrub pad
- Utensil washer-sanitizer
These tools facilitate the cleansing and sanitization of most items involved in sterile processing. If you’re lucky, you’ll find automated cleansing accessories that help:
- Increase productivity as they reduce the workload and save time
- Boost cleaning effectiveness as they have pH-neutral enzymes
- Reduce staff exposure to toxic bodily fluids
Packaging Supplies
Packaging supplies include items such as rigid containers, trays, wrappers, or baskets to pack your sterilizer. These supplies make shipping and storing your autoclave, sterilizer, or instrument washer easier.
Packaging accessories protect your sterilizer against contamination during handling. They maintain your equipment’s sterility after disinfection and prevent a microbial attack.
You’ll find packaging supplies in various sizes to meet your needs. Make sure the packaging materials you choose have the following features:
- Easy to use
- Penetrable (allows penetration of sterilant)
- Puncture-proof
- Flexible
- Secure
- Aeration (allows your sterilizers to dissipate)
- Tear-proof
Water Saving Accessories
Water-saving devices promote eco-friendliness and may help save on water bills. They reduce water usage or misuse when cleaning sterilizers, autoclaves, or instrument washers. These units prevent water consumption during the non-sterilization process of your sterilizer’s cycle.
Storage Supplies and Devices
A good storage item helps keep your sterilizer safe from contamination. It should be robust enough to prevent light, sound, and moisture penetration. This keeps your sterilizers and instrument disinfectants efficient at sanitizing various items.
Each critical surgical equipment that enters the sterilization cycle should come out sterile. The storage container should give maximum protection against:
- Extreme temperatures
- Air movements
- Contaminants in the environment
- High humidity
- Insects, rodents, and other vermin
Heat Sealers
Hot sealing devices help close sterile barrier systems during a reproducible sterilization procedure. They protect your sterilizers from re-contamination after cleansing.
Use an internal digital heat controller to maintain a constant temperature when sealing. You adjust the temperature control knob to suit your packaging material. Then locate the bag or container’s edge in the seal area for a perfect seal.
Due to their basic features, most heat sealers are safe and simple to operate or maintain. They are energy-saving, meaning they turn to standby mode after a specific period. This can reduce spending on electrical bills.
Monitoring Devices
Monitor the sanitization cycle to assess the sterilizing conditions and presence of microbes. To do so, combine biological, mechanical, and chemical indicators. Mechanical indicators involve equipment such as:
- Temperature record charts that assess the sterilization cycle time and temperature
- Pressure gauges to evaluate the cycle pressure
Biological and chemical monitors show that items have undergone sterilization. They use chemical or heat-sensitive inks that change color when sterilization factors are present. Some of these factors include:
- Microbes
- Saturated steam
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- ETO concentration
Get the Best Sterile Processing Supplies and Accessories Today
Looking to buy effective and durable sterile processing supplies for your sterilizer? Partner with a reputable medical equipment supplier today. These professionals offer different sterilization solutions to fit your sterilization process. Most suppliers provide repair services and personal support to help meet your needs.