Manual Washing and Cleaning

Question 1

What PPE must be donned before manual cleaning?

Answer 1

Apron
Face shield
Rubber gloves and heavy duty rubber gloves

Question 2

What sinks are required for manual cleaning?

Answer 2

Hand washing sink
Sink for manual washing
Sink for rinsing instruments following cleaning

Question 3

What water is used in manual cleaning?

Answer 3

Standard potable water or tap water
Between 30 - 35º

Question 4

What are the different manual cleaning methods?

Answer 4

Immersion
Non-immersion

Question 5

Why are instruments scrubbed below the water surface?

Answer 5

The instruments must be in contact with water and detergent
Minimised splashing which would contaminate the surroundings
Scrubbing above water has the potential to produce aerosols

Question 6

What is used for manual immersion cleaning?

Answer 6

A long handled, soft bristled brush

Question 7

When should manual cleaning be carried out?

Answer 7

When:
It is specifically recommended by the manufacturers instructions
If there is no other alternative - automated equipment out of service
The automated process has failed to remove the contamination

Question 8

What is the Ultrasonic Bath?

Answer 8

Back up to cleaning after the WD
Uses high frequency sound waves to produce bubbles which implode with a scouring affect against the hard surfaces of the instruments

Question 9

How does ultrasonic cleaning work?

Answer 9

As the sound waves pass through the water micro bubbles form
The fluctuation in pressures the sound waves induce, cause the bubbles to rapidly expand and then collapse
Process is referred to as cavitation

Question 10

Describe the ultrasonic cleaning cycle

Answer 10

Operating temp set between 20 - 30º
Machine filled with tap water to required volume marked on the chamber
Chemical must be added to the water in the chamber
Cycle must be ran for a specified period of time

Question 11

What must happen before equipment can be used in an ultrasonic bath?

Answer 11

A degas cycle must be run to eliminate any gas bubbles inside water normally

Question 12

What should be recorded in an equipment log book for the ultrasonic bath in a cleaning cycle?

Answer 12

Date
Cycle number
Detergent added - Y/N
Temperature
Operator name

Question 13

What follows up the cleaning process?

Answer 13

Rinsing

Question 14

What follows rinsing?

Answer 14

Instruments must be processed through the WD

Question 15

What are the reasons for manual washing?

Answer 15

Exerts a greater force than the WD can produce
Some MI require manual washing
Ultrasonic baths have a ferocious process that is very good at removing contamination

Question 16

What are the reasons against manual washing?

Answer 16

Member of staff is required for the entire process
Risk of aerosol production
Risk of contaminating the environment
Potential for inconsistency due to human error
High risk of sharps injuries
Ultrasonic bath may damage equipment
No automatic water changes in an ultrasonic bath