Cleaning of the devices to be sterilized is an essential requisite for the successful outcome of the whole process. The purpose of cleaning is to reduce the amount of microbial contamination by over 90% and to remove the organic material left behind by the preceding procedure. If these remain on the devices they can hinder the action of the sterilizing agent and defeat the whole process. If an instrument is not clean, its sterilization cannot in any way be obtained. But the sterilization process cannot detect if an instrument is “still dirty” and cannot establish that, as such, it is not suitable for being sterilized. Not only that, the checking of the physical parameters of the corresponding cycle can wrongly validate a process that in reality has not been efficacious on the whole load. It is therefore up to the professionalism of the operators to guarantee correct cleaning of the medical device.

Disinfection vessels are not technological products and it would therefore have been very simple to make the same old device, understood as a container for liquids. But Tecno-Gaz decided to start a real research and development project even on these devices and the result was a truly positive one, since the ARTICA decontamination and disinfection vessels have unique characteristics and features that guarantee the operator simple, rational and above all safe use. ARTICA vessels are made with a special plastic that is compatible with chemical liquids. They have a shaped bottom that allows the instrument container to remain suspended, so preventing the instruments from coming into contact with the residues resting on the bottom of the vessel. ARTICA vessels are equipped with: full removable lid, which allows the liquid to be changed easily and quickly partial lid, which allows instruments to be inserted without having to open the vessel completely with consequent escape of odours and fumes support equipped with mechanical timer, which allows the time the instruments stay in the vessel to be programmed and checked and guarantees that the disinfection process is completed correctly internal basket made of plastic or, on request, of stainless steel.

After cleaning has finished, the instruments must be properly rinsed to remove residues of materials and all traces of detergent that could interact with the sterilizing agents. After rinsing, the devices must obligatorily be dried to prevent corrosion and white marks; also, water residues can compromise the subsequent sterilization process. To perform this operation, we recommend the use of mechanical means and do not recommend the use of paper cloths or other manual methods since there is a high risk of being cut or pricked, with serious consequences.

The purpose of packaging is to guarantee that, after sterilization, the devices remain sterile and are protected from contamination that could occur during transport and storage. The load must be packaged in a way that guarantees the removal of air inside the package and allows contact with the sterilizing agent. The materials most commonly used for packaging are: paper-polypropylene laminate. Paper-polypropylene laminating is preferably used for small devices and allows the contents to be identifi ed. The devices used in surgeries are packed in a single bag while those used for invasive procedures and those intended for operating theatres are packed in a double bag to guarantee use with the “no touch” technique. The paper-polypropylene bags are subjected to positive pressure, and therefore the seal must be at least 10 mm wide so that they do not open during the sterilization cycle.

The traceability of the instruments is a basic procedure for the handling of sterilized materials. Traceability guarantees the recording of the “path” taken by each and every instrument, from preparation to sterilization, until it is used. This is made possible thanks to a data cross checking management system. Traceability is an activity that forms an integral part of the sterilization cycle procedure and should be implemented after the wrapping phase and before the autoclave is loaded. This procedure is indispensable in order to guarantee maximum legal protection to the operators and to the health director.

Professionals are directly responsible for all the instruments and devices they use. In the case of the autoclave, this responsibility is even greater due to the service this device provides. Every professional must therefore implement systematic control procedures for the sterilization process and to assess the correct operation of the equipment. During operation, each autoclave is constantly controlled by physical and electronic devices installed in the machine. To assure correct operation and the effective guarantee of sterilization, systematic monitoring is applied by control systems responding to physical, chemical and biological principles and using specific indicators: Physical tests: including tests and controls: (Bowie & Dick, Helix) to assess the steam penetration capacity in hollow and porous bodies, and the Vacuum Test to control the validity of the vacuum circuits on the machine.