Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities: An Overview and Current Issues

Overview

Journal Infect Dis Clin North Am

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2016 Aug 13

PMID 27515140

Citations 43

Authors

William A Rutala

David J Weber

Affiliations

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Abstract

When properly used, disinfection and sterilization can ensure the safe use of invasive and noninvasive medical devices. The method of disinfection and sterilization depends on the intended use of the medical device: critical items (contact sterile tissue) must be sterilized before use; semicritical items (contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin) must be high-level disinfected; and noncritical items (contact intact skin) should receive low-level disinfection. Cleaning should always precede high-level disinfection and sterilization. Current disinfection and sterilization guidelines must be strictly followed.

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