Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Cleaning and Decontamination of Reusable Medical Equipments,Including the use of Hydrogen peroxide Gas Decontamination

BM Andersen, K Hochlin and JP Daling

Summary
Objectives: Outpatients have increasing need for reusable medical equipments, including respiratory tract
equipments. Infection control routines for these devices are often superficial or may even be missing. In the Oslo region, approximately 22 000 outpatients are using different forms of medical equipments. The service of reusable medical equipment includes cleaning, reparation, maintenance and replacement of inner or outer parts. This is done periodically or more often when needed, and always before a new user.
Methods: A systematically manual procedure for cleaning (soap and water) and decontamination (heated water at 85°C in washing machine or liquid chloramines 5%.) procedure has been developed for all medical equipment received from outpatients. From 2007 on, a gas decontamination method was developed, using 5% dry mist of hydrogen peroxide gas to decontaminate inner parts of the equipment that could not be soaked in liquids. The equipment was placed in a special sealed gas decontamination room before and after maintenance procedures. Control of gaseous decontamination was done with spore tests placed in internal parts of the equipment and in the decontamination room.
Results: Medical equipments received from outpatients were often heavily contaminated inside with dirt, dust and biological materials like secrete, excrete and blood rests. The use of hydrogen peroxide dry mist killed all control spores placed in the decontamination room and 90% of the spores placed in internal parts of the equipment.
Conclusion: A combined manual and hydrogen peroxide dry mist decontamination of medical equipment
may reduce the risk of transmitting infectious materials between patients, personnel, environment and healthcare institutions. The dry mist of hydrogen peroxide used in this study did not corrode or destroy the sensitive internal parts of the equipments and got access to most internal parts of the equipment, as demonstrated by the spore tests.