The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

decontaminated using impregnated detergent/cleaning wipes. However due to the treatment of complex wounds there is a risk that non-invasive devices can still come in to contact with blood and other body fluids which then require decontamination methods to include cleaning and disinfection. Semi-invasive probes, such as Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) Transvaginal (TV) and Transrectal (TR) probes are classed as “semi-critical devices” under the Spaulding Classification as they have the potential to come into contact with mucous membranes or broken skin during clinical procedures. These devices therefore are recommended as needing cleaning and disinfection between uses. Although impregnated cleaning and disinfection wipes are used widely for the decontamination of probes, ensuring high levels of cleaning efficacy and disinfection can be difficult to achieve due to human factors involved in manual decontamination methods.

Automated Methods of high level disinfection

Automated methods of high level disinfection have been developed in response to the widespread need to effectively decontaminate these devices and provide assurance and validation that the removal/deactivation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms has been consistently achieved. These methods typically involve the following: • Hydrogen Peroxide systems: Automated cabinets using a Hydrogen Peroxide mist which kills bacteria, fungi and viruses. The small droplets of hydrogen peroxide are able to penetrate into the small crevices of the device ensuring consistent exposure to the surface of the device. Pre-cleaning of the device prior to loading into the chamber will be required. • UV-C systems: Automated cabinets using ultraviolet-C, one of the classified sub bands of ultraviolet light, where the photons penetrate the cell walls of bacterial, virus and fungal microorganisms interfering with their cellular processes resulting in their destruction. Pre-cleaning of the device prior to placing into the UV-C cabinet is required. UV-C systems are able to achieve high level disinfection of the exposed surfaces of the device without the use of chemicals.

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