Sterilization plays a key role in beauty, cosmetology, medical and other fields where it is important to ensure complete cleanliness of tools and equipment. In this article we will consider the basic concepts and terms associated with sterilization, as well as the features of different methods of disinfection.
Concept and terminology
The field of sterilization uses a variety of terms to describe decontamination processes, processing methods, and equipment needed to maintain sterility.
Basic concepts in the field of sterilization
Sterilization
Sterilization is the process of completely destroying all types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and their spores, on the surface or inside various objects and materials. It is essential in the beauty, cosmetology, medical, pharmaceutical and food industries to ensure absolute cleanliness of instruments and equipment.
Disinfection
Disinfection is a key step in preparing instruments for further processing and sterilization. For effective disinfection it is important to properly prepare the working solution according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. First, the required amount of water is poured into the container, after which the disinfection concentrate is added. For accurate dosage it is worth using a measuring cup or a disposable syringe.
The instruments to be treated should be completely immersed in the solution, being in a disassembled or open state. The duration of immersion is determined by the methodological recommendations for a particular product and must be strictly observed to ensure maximum disinfection.
Asepsis
Asepsis is a set of measures aimed at preventing the entry of microorganisms into sterile areas such as medical instruments, operating rooms or open wounds. The main purpose of asepsis is to create and maintain a sterile environment that minimizes the risk of infection during surgery, cosmetic procedures, and the like.
Aseptic measures include the use of sterile materials, staff hygiene, working in specially prepared rooms, and the use of modern cleaning and disinfection methods.
Antiseptic
Antisepsis is a set of methods and means aimed at destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the skin, mucous membranes, wounds and medical instruments. It is used for the prevention and treatment of infections, as well as for the preparation of the surgical field before surgical intervention.
PCP (Pre-sterilization cleaning)
Pre-sterilization cleaning is a mandatory step in the preparation of instruments prior to sterilization, ensuring the removal of disinfectant residues and other contaminants. After disinfection is completed, instruments are thoroughly rinsed under running water to remove residual solutions that may affect the further sterilization process.
The instruments are then dried on disposable sterile towels or dried in a special device (e.g. a dry sterilizer). The MicroSTOP dryer has a special “Drying” mode, which ensures fast and thorough drying of instruments at 80°C for 30 minutes. This avoids excessive humidity, which can promote corrosion and damage the sterilizer components.
Cleaning methods
Sterilization involves different methods of cleaning instruments and equipment, depending on their purpose. There are two main methods of cleaning: physical and chemical.
Physical cleaning methods
Physical methods are based on the application of high temperatures or radiation to kill microorganisms. One of the most common physical methods is dry heat sterilization.
Dry-air sterilization involves the treatment of instruments with dry hot air in special dry-air cabinets. It effectively destroys bacteria, viruses, fungi and their spores, ensuring complete sterility.
Basic rules for the use of the drying cabinet:
- Instruments must be dry before sterilization. Humidity can damage the equipment and create plaque.
- Instruments are placed in kraft bags or on sterilization trays in an open position without overloading them (no more than 70% of tray fullness).
Dry-sterilization is excellent for metal items (e.g. cutters (if exposure to high temperatures is permitted by the manufacturer!), scissors, tweezers) and provides reliable protection against infections.
Gas sterilization:
This method uses gases (e.g. ethylene oxide) to disinfect instruments that are sensitive to high temperatures. It is suitable for plastic or rubber instruments.
Chemical cleaning methods
Chemical methods involve the use of special chemical solutions to kill microorganisms.
Treatment with disinfectant solutions:
Disinfectants are used to clean instruments before sterilization. The main steps are:
- Preparation of the solution – disinfectant concentrate is added to water in the proportions specified by the manufacturer.
- Complete immersion of instruments – treated items should be disassembled and immersed in the solution so that it covers them with a layer of at least 1 cm.
- Observance of disinfection time in accordance with the methodological recommendations.
Ultrasonic treatment – as one of the methods of pre-sterilization treatment
Ultrasonic cleaning is a modern method that combines mechanical cleaning and disinfection. This process is carried out with the help of ultrasonic washers, which use high-frequency sound waves.
Principle of action:
- the transmitter creates an ultrasonic wave that passes through the liquid medium and forms microscopic bubbles;
- the bubbles penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the tools, effectively removing contaminants. The process is called cavitation, whereby the bubbles literally “pull out” micro-particles of dirt.
How to use:
- A disinfectant in the recommended concentration is added to the water.
- The instruments are completely immersed in the solution.
- The ultrasonic washer is switched on and cleaning takes place for a set time.
Ultrasonic washing provides deep cleaning and preparation of instruments for the next step – sterilization.
Equipment and materials used for sterilization
Special devices and auxiliary materials are used to ensure complete sterility in the beauty, cosmetology, medical and other fields. They destroy microorganisms, preserve sterility and control the quality of processing.
Sterilizers
Sterilizer is a device designed to destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi and their spores on tools and materials. Such devices work by different methods, in particular thermal, chemical and ultrasonic. The most popular among sterilizers are dry cabinets and autoclaves.
Autoclaves
An autoclave is a device that provides sterilization using hot steam under high pressure. Through a combination of temperature and increased pressure, an autoclave effectively destroys all forms of microorganisms, including resistant bacterial spores.
Ultrasonic baths
An ultrasonic bath is a device for deep cleaning of instruments prior to sterilization. Its action is based on the cavitation effect, where high frequency ultrasonic waves create millions of microscopic bubbles that remove contaminants.
Disinfectants
These are chemical solutions to kill microorganisms on tools and surfaces. It is important to use them in the correct concentration, strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Packaging materials for sterilization
Kraft bags are made of multilayer paper, which ensures sterility of instruments for a long time after processing (up to 50 days). They allow air to circulate but block bacteria and moisture. Kraft bags are also used in dry heaters and autoclaves to place instruments in them. It is worth noting that kraft bags are different for autoclave and dry kiln sterilization. In the MicroSTOP catalog you can find a wide range of kraft bags for dry kiln and autoclave sterilization.
Sterilization indicators
Indicators change color to confirm sterilization efficiency. The most popular are Class 4 indicators, which show whether all sterilization conditions have been met.
Concept
The sterilization cycle is a sequence of steps in the processing of instruments to ensure that they are completely safe for use. Compliance with all steps ensures the destruction of pathogens and prevents recontamination.
The main stages of the sterilization cycle:
- Preparation of hands and working environment. Before starting work it is necessary to remove jewelry, thoroughly treat hands with antiseptic or use disposable gloves.
- Disinfection of tools. Prepare a working solution by adding a disinfectant concentrate to water in the correct proportion. Instruments are completely immersed in the solution in an open or disassembled state. The treatment time is determined by the methodological instructions for the product.
- Pre-sterilization cleaning (PPC). After disinfection, instruments are washed under running water to remove residues of chemical agents. Instruments are dried on sterile towels or in the drying mode of the sterilizer.
- Sterilization. Instruments are placed in kraft bags or placed in a sterilization tray. The sterilization process takes place in a drying cabinet or autoclave depending on the type of instruments.
- Storage of sterile instruments. Sterile instruments are stored in UV cabinets or in sealed kraft bags, which provide sterility for up to 50 days. It is important to avoid contact of sterile items with a non-sterile environment.
Compliance with the full sterilization cycle guarantees compliance with sanitary norms and ensures the safety of clients and masters in the spheres of beauty, cosmetology, medicine, dentistry and other areas.
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