Evaluation of the Presence of Biofilms in Corrosive Points in Surgical Instruments after Reprocessing

Abstract

Corrosive surgical instruments are routinely observed in central sterile services departments around the world. In addition to other risks, they can harbor microorganisms in the form of biofilms. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether biofilms intentionally formed at corrosion points on surgical instruments are removable by manual and automated cleaning followed by sterilization. Laboratory experiments were performed where samples of corroded surgical instruments in use in practice were evaluated for biofilm presence using a scanning electron microscope. No biofilms were observed in the samples subjected to manual and automated cleaning, nor in the samples in which there was no intentional biofilm formation. Residual organic matter without the presence of microorganisms was observed.