Topics: Enzyme Detergent Cleaners, what are they?
How do Enzyme Detergent Cleaners clean surgical instruments?
The best practices for Enzyme Surgical Instruments Cleaners?
Enzyme Detergent Cleaners, what are they, and how do they clean surgical instruments.
Surgical Instrument Manufacturers always recommend the use of a Neutral pH instrument cleaner. Surgical Instrument Manufacturers typically recommend that Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners should be discarded after each use as these products are not microbicidal and will not retard microbial growth. This can cause the unidentified microorganism to be pass to other surgical instruments that are being cleaned. Some manufactures of "combination" or all-in-one 4 Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners include a bacteriostatic agent which will prevent the growth of microorganisms. Although these Surgical Instrument Cleaners do not replace disinfection they are designed to reduce the risk of infection to reprocessing personnel by rendering instruments that are clean and safe to handle. The cleaning efficacy of enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners is determined by the ratio of enzymes to bioburden. The higher the proportion of enzymes the higher the efficacy. The higher the initial concentration of Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaner to diluent the greater the efficacy (given comparable dilutions) and the greater the Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners offer in terms of cost savings, (Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaner shipping costs, cost of Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners as a consumable). As a result, if the Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners become laden with bioburden from previous cleaning, the efficacy of the enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners is lower. When a Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaner states that is it "multi-tiered", the inference is that is contains: protease (enzyme) which break protein debris into smaller, more soluble subunits, amylase (enzyme) which catalyses the breakdown of starch, and lipase (enzyme) which breaks up fat-containing debris and carbohydrates. When a Enzyme Surgical Instrument Cleaners detergent cleaning concentrate states that is it "high-level", the inference is that is contains a high concentration of enzymes. When Surgical Instrument Cleaners state that is provides "enzyme activity" the inference is that is contains enzymes but this is often a misrepresentation of ingredients for a detergent cleaning concentrate that does not contain enzymes. Enzymes are effective and they are costly for manufacturers to include in the formulation. As is true for all detergent Surgical Instrument Cleaners, the most effective test is against your most difficult cleaning challenge. The two most common tests for cleaning concentration efficacy that are commercially available are the "TOSI Test" and the "film test". Be aware that some manufacturers use advertising wordage and product names that imply enzymes are an active ingredient but do not actually include enzymes in their product formulation. Refer to the Surgical Instrument Cleaners labeling, MSDS, and listing of product ingredients for full disclosure.
The best practices for Enzyme Surgical Instruments Cleaners?