Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices

Abstract

Implants and medical devices are essential elements for the success of surgical interventions. Many of these materials come into contact with the sterile tissue or mucous membrane of the patient. As a consequence, they are free of pathogens before use to prevent possible infections, since an inadequate cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization process can result in a nosocomial infection that can cause various complications, including ending the life of the patient. However, not all medical items are treated under the same conditions or with the same rigor; it all depends on the role they play during the medical intervention. This chapter deals with the different cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization methods and their advantages and disadvantages; Traditional and more recently developed methods are also discussed. Innovative methods have emerged as promising candidates for solving the downside of traditional methods, but it didn't take long to spot their downside.