THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DISINFECTION AND STER ILIZATION OF DISPOSABLE ANDMULTIUSE INSTRUMENTS

After disinfection and sterilisation, the cleaning of instruments has been shifted to the foreground. The section for MIS in Tubingen has de veloped a method for reliable validation of cleaning which is decisive for sterilisability. It was proved with the aid of radioactively mark ed macroalbumins that endoscopic instruments become partly filled and can only be cleaned reliably by a defined rinsing process. A validated cleaning is possible with take-apart instruments (with the new instru ment generation). Rinsing with the aid of a Luerlock insert requires v ery high pressures and long rinsing times (newly developed cleaning de vices of Netsch). The study group Hygienics in Tubingen recommends the use of take-apart and rinsable instruments only. Other instruments ca nnot be sterilised reliably because they cannot be cleaned reliably. D isposable instruments must be used once only as they cannot be cleaned for a re-sterilisation.