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Cleaning, decontamination & sterilization resources

Decontamination and sterilization are essential infection control processes to avoid the transmission of infection to patients from equipment and medical and surgical instruments.

Low & intermediate disinfection resources | High level disinfection resources | Point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources | Single device reprocessing resources | Sterility assurance resources

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Low & intermediate level disinfection resources

According to the CDC, low level disinfectants are appropriate for non-critical items that come in contact with skin, such as stethoscopes, blood pressure and tourniquet cuffs, EKG leads, bedside equipment and environmental surfaces. Intermediate-level disinfectants are appropriate for some semi-critical and non-critical items such as stethoscopes, x-ray machines and bed side rails.

Low & intermediate level disinfection resources for all care settings

The low & intermediate level disinfection resources featured in this section apply to all care settings.

Best practices & recommendations

CDC

Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

Properties of an ideal disinfectant >
One-page list that details the properties of the ideal disinfectant

Educational presentations

HHS

Nurse aide increased infection control module 5: Environmental cleaning and disinfecting >
This learning module describes the role environmental surfaces play in pathogen transmission and the CDC recommended practices for cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces

PDI

Infection transmission is a contact sport >
This presentation will help you understand the role of surface disinfection in healthcare today, describe recommendations for special pathogens, discuss current disinfection & prevention technology and factors to consider when choosing disinfectants

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.

High-level disinfection, sterilization & disinfection >
This presentation covers the Spaulding classification scheme, methods for sterilization, advantages and disadvantages of disinfectants and controversies around reprocessing of endoscopes

General resources

CDC

Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Public Health Ontario

Types of disinfectant tables >
This document is an excerpt from the Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings. It helps to classify equipment/instruments and determine the level of reprocessing required based on the intended and actual use of the equipment/instruments

Low & intermediate level disinfection resources for specific care settings

The low & intermediate level disinfection resources featured in this section apply to specific care settings.

Articles

OR Manager: Non-critical OR items deserve due diligence in disinfection >
Written by Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS on the importance of low- and intermediate-level disinfection in healthcare facilities

Articles

OR Manager: Non-critical OR items deserve due diligence in disinfection >
Written by Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS on the importance of low- and intermediate-level disinfection in healthcare facilities

Articles

OR Manager: Non-critical OR items deserve due diligence in disinfection >
Written by Susan Klacik, BS, CRCST, CHL, CIS, ACE, FCS on the importance of low- and intermediate-level disinfection in healthcare facilities

High level disinfection resources

Risks associated with improper disinfection or sterilization of equipment include breach of host barriers, person-to-person transmission (e.g. hepatitis B virus) and transmission of environmental pathogens. According to the CDC, the level of disinfection or sterilization is dependent on the intended use of the object.

Critical items (such as surgical instruments, which contact sterile tissue), semi-critical items (such as endoscopes, which contact mucous membranes) and non-critical items (such as stethoscopes, which contact only intact skin) require sterilization, high-level disinfection and low-level disinfection, respectively.1

High level disinfection resources for all care settings

The high level disinfection resources featured in this section apply to all care settings.

Best practices & recommendations

CDC

Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of disinfectants by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

Educational presentations

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.

High-level disinfection, sterilization & disinfection >
This presentation covers the Spaulding classification scheme, methods for sterilization, advantages and disadvantages of disinfectants and controversies around reprocessing of endoscopes

General resources

CDC

Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Public Health Ontario

Types of disinfectant tables >
This document is an excerpt from the Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings. It helps to classify equipment/instruments and determine the level of reprocessing required based on the intended and actual use of the equipment/instruments

High level disinfection resources for specific care settings

The high level disinfection resources featured in this section apply to specific care settings.

Best practices & recommendations

ASGE: Multi-society guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes: 2021 update >
Communication from the ASGE Quality Assurance In Endoscopy Committee on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories

CDC: Essential elements of a reprocessing program for flexible endoscopes: Recommendations of the HICPAC >
Healthcare facilities can use the toolkit and guidelines to incorporate the essential elements of flexible endoscope reprocessing into their reprocessing program. These tools can be modified to meet your facility’s specific needs

CDC: Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities: Chemical disinfectants >
This page lists overview, mode of action, microbicidal activity and uses of various chemical disinfectants

FDA: FDA-cleared sterilants & high level disinfectants with general claims for processing reusable medical & dental devices >
A table of FDA-cleared liquid chemical sterilants and high level disinfectants for processing reusable medical devices

FDA: Use duodenoscopes with innovative designs to enhance safety: FDA safety communication >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating the April 2020 Safety Communication to provide new information supporting the transition to fully disposable duodenoscopes and those with disposable components as well as new information on completed post-market surveillance studies

NIOSH: Health and safety practices survey of healthcare workers: High-level disinfectants >
Here you will learn what NIOSH found regarding high-level disinfectants and best practices for minimizing exposure

SGNA: Guideline for use of high-level disinfectants & sterilants in the gastroenterology setting >
This guideline provides general information about the principles, product safety and characteristics of high level disinfectants/sterilants

SGNA: Standards of infection control for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes >
One-page guide that provides information on high-level disinfection for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes

Educational presentations

Steris University: High level disinfection & sterilization options for flexible endoscopes >
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to review current standards and guidelines regarding flexible endoscopes and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of high level disinfection and sterilization methods

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: Current issues & future perspectives >
This presentation covers the complexity of endoscope reprocessing and supplemental measures to reduce infection

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks, and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for care >
The following document is a summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

UNC Spice: High-level disinfection (HLD): Manual reprocessing of reusable semi-critical medical devices >
This is a resource for HCP on manual cleaning, decontamination, HLD for semi-critical items, HLD monitoring and quality assurance, HLD documentation and strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of infection disease from semi-critical devices

Best practices & recommendations

ASGE: Multi-society guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes: 2021 update >
Communication from the ASGE Quality Assurance In Endoscopy Committee on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories

CDC: Essential elements of a reprocessing program for flexible endoscopes: Recommendations of the HICPAC >
Healthcare facilities can use the toolkit and guidelines to incorporate the essential elements of flexible endoscope reprocessing into their reprocessing program. These tools can be modified to meet your facility’s specific needs

CDC: Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities: Chemical disinfectants >
This page lists overview, mode of action, microbicidal activity and uses of various chemical disinfectants

FDA: FDA-cleared sterilants & high level disinfectants with general claims for processing reusable medical & dental devices >
A table of FDA-cleared liquid chemical sterilants and high level disinfectants for processing reusable medical devices

FDA: Use duodenoscopes with innovative designs to enhance safety: FDA safety communication >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating the April 2020 Safety Communication to provide new information supporting the transition to fully disposable duodenoscopes and those with disposable components as well as new information on completed post-market surveillance studies

NIOSH: Health and safety practices survey of healthcare workers: High-level disinfectants >
Here you will learn what NIOSH found regarding high-level disinfectants and best practices for minimizing exposure

SGNA: Guideline for use of high-level disinfectants & sterilants in the gastroenterology setting >
This guideline provides general information about the principles, product safety and characteristics of high level disinfectants/sterilants

SGNA: Standards of infection control for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes >
One-page guide that provides information on high-level disinfection for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes

Educational presentations

Steris University: High level disinfection & sterilization options for flexible endoscopes >
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to review current standards and guidelines regarding flexible endoscopes and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of high level disinfection and sterilization methods

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: Current issues & future perspectives >
This presentation covers the complexity of endoscope reprocessing and supplemental measures to reduce infection

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks, and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

General resources

UNC Spice: High-level disinfection (HLD): Manual reprocessing of reusable semi-critical medical devices >
This is a resource for HCP on manual cleaning, decontamination, HLD for semi-critical items, HLD monitoring and quality assurance, HLD documentation and strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of infection disease from semi-critical devices

Best practices & recommendations

ASGE: Multi-society guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes: 2021 update >
Communication from the ASGE Quality Assurance In Endoscopy Committee on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories

CDC: Essential elements of a reprocessing program for flexible endoscopes: Recommendations of the HICPAC >
Healthcare facilities can use the toolkit and guidelines to incorporate the essential elements of flexible endoscope reprocessing into their reprocessing program. These tools can be modified to meet your facility’s specific needs

CDC: Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities: Chemical disinfectants >
This page lists overview, mode of action, microbicidal activity and uses of various chemical disinfectants

FDA: FDA-cleared sterilants & high level disinfectants with general claims for processing reusable medical & dental devices >
A table of FDA-cleared liquid chemical sterilants and high level disinfectants for processing reusable medical devices

FDA: Use duodenoscopes with innovative designs to enhance safety: FDA safety communication >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating the April 2020 Safety Communication to provide new information supporting the transition to fully disposable duodenoscopes and those with disposable components as well as new information on completed post-market surveillance studies

NIOSH: Health and safety practices survey of healthcare workers: High-level disinfectants >
Here you will learn what NIOSH found regarding high-level disinfectants and best practices for minimizing exposure

SGNA: Guideline for use of high-level disinfectants & sterilants in the gastroenterology setting >
This guideline provides general information about the principles, product safety and characteristics of high level disinfectants/sterilants

SGNA: Standards of infection control for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes >
One-page guide that provides information on high-level disinfection for reprocessing of flexible GI endoscopes

Educational presentations

Steris University: High level disinfection & sterilization options for flexible endoscopes >
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to review current standards and guidelines regarding flexible endoscopes and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of high level disinfection and sterilization methods

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: Current issues & future perspectives >
This presentation covers the complexity of endoscope reprocessing and supplemental measures to reduce infection

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks, and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for care >
The following document is a summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

UNC Spice: High-level disinfection (HLD): Manual reprocessing of reusable semi-critical medical devices >
This is a resource for HCP on manual cleaning, decontamination, HLD for semi-critical items, HLD monitoring and quality assurance, HLD documentation and strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of infection disease from semi-critical devices

Best practices & recommendations

CDC: Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities: Chemical disinfectants >
This page lists overview, mode of action, microbicidal activity and uses of various chemical disinfectants

FDA: FDA-cleared sterilants & high level disinfectants with general claims for processing reusable medical & dental devices >
A table of FDA-cleared liquid chemical sterilants and high level disinfectants for processing reusable medical devices

General resources

UNC Spice: High-level disinfection (HLD): Manual reprocessing of reusable semi-critical medical devices >
This is a resource for HCP on manual cleaning, decontamination, HLD for semi-critical items, HLD monitoring and quality assurance, HLD documentation and strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of infection disease from semi-critical devices

Point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources

Point-of-care cleaning describes the process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.

Point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources for all care settings

The point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources featured in this section apply to all care settings.

Best practices & recommendations

CDC

Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

FDA

Blood glucose monitoring test systems for prescription point-of-care use >
FDA update on the risks of using fingerstick devices on more than one person, including new FDA and other government agency recommendations on cleaning

Letter to manufacturers of blood glucose monitoring systems listed with the FDA >
This letter outlines recent changes in the review of blood glucose monitoring systems submissions. These changes were instituted in response to a critical public safety risk concerning the risk of transmission of disease from shared use of fingerstick (lancing) devices and point of care blood testing devices

Point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources for specific care settings

The point-of-care cleaning & sterilization resources featured in this section apply to specific care settings.

Best practices & recommendations

Clorox: Medical device cleaning & disinfection FAQ >
The Joint Commission recently added three new FAQs to its standards interpretation webpage. They relate to cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and should be very helpful to healthcare facilities that need to regularly clean and disinfect medical devices and equipment to ensure patient safety

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for safe care >
Summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

Toolkits & checklists

ASC: Toolkit for point of care devices >
The ASC Quality Collaboration has assembled a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve infection prevention practices surrounding the use of point of care devices

Educational presentations

AHRQ: Clean equipment & environment promotes safe resident care >
Upon completion, long term care staff will be able to describe the chain of infection and identify key strategies to break the chain, explain catheter care and maintenance strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections and explain the role of the environment as a place where pathogens become a source of infection for residents and staff

Best practices & recommendations

Clorox: Medical device cleaning & disinfection FAQ >
The Joint Commission recently added three new FAQs to its standards interpretation webpage. They relate to cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and should be very helpful to healthcare facilities that need to regularly clean and disinfect medical devices and equipment to ensure patient safety

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for safe care >
Summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

Toolkits & checklists

ASC: Toolkit for point of care devices >
The ASC Quality Collaboration has assembled a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve infection prevention practices surrounding the use of point of care devices

Best practices & recommendations

Clorox: Medical device cleaning & disinfection FAQ >
The Joint Commission recently added three new FAQs to its standards interpretation webpage. They relate to cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and should be very helpful to healthcare facilities that need to regularly clean and disinfect medical devices and equipment to ensure patient safety

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for safe care >
Summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

Toolkits & checklists

ASC: Toolkit for point of care devices >
The ASC Quality Collaboration has assembled a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve infection prevention practices surrounding the use of point of care devices

Best practices & recommendations

Clorox: Medical device cleaning & disinfection FAQ >
The Joint Commission recently added three new FAQs to its standards interpretation webpage. They relate to cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment and should be very helpful to healthcare facilities that need to regularly clean and disinfect medical devices and equipment to ensure patient safety

General resources

CDC: Guide to infection prevention for outpatient settings: Minimum expectations for safe care >
Summary guide of infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. The recommendations included in this document are not new but rather reflect existing evidence-based guidelines produced by CDC and HICPAC

Single device reprocessing resources

According to the CDC, “when properly used, disinfection and sterilization can ensure the safe use of invasive and non-invasive medical devices. However, current disinfection and sterilization guidelines must be strictly followed.”2 Providers must utilize an FDA-registered reprocessing facility to reprocess single-use devices; reprocessing should not be done in individual facilities.

Single device reprocessing resources for specific care settings

The single device reprocessing resources featured in this section apply to specific care settings.

Articles

AORN: Reprocessing single-use devices in the ambulatory surgery environment >
This article explores reprocessing and its benefits in ASCs, including a review of the oversight that the FDA currently has for reprocessing and a discussion of the results of studies pertaining to this practice. The article also describes some issues that ASC leaders need to be aware of when considering the implementation of a reprocessing program

Best practices & recommendations

FDA: Reprocessing medical devices in healthcare settings: Validation methods & labeling >
This guidance provides recommendations for the formulation and scientific validation of reprocessing instructions for reusable medical devices

General resources

CDC: Reuse of single-use medical devices >
Background on reuse of single-use medical devices

AMDR: Authored resources >
Resources and clinical information on medical device reprocessing, including whitepapers, industry news legislation and regulatory updates

Toolkits & checklists

ASCQ: Single-use device reprocessing toolkit >
Features a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve reprocessing practices

Articles

AORN: Reprocessing single-use devices in the ambulatory surgery environment >
This article explores reprocessing and its benefits in ASCs, including a review of the oversight that the FDA currently has for reprocessing and a discussion of the results of studies pertaining to this practice. The article also describes some issues that ASC leaders need to be aware of when considering the implementation of a reprocessing program

Best practices & recommendations

FDA: Reprocessing medical devices in healthcare settings: Validation methods & labeling >
This guidance provides recommendations for the formulation and scientific validation of reprocessing instructions for reusable medical devices

General resources

CDC: Reuse of single-use medical devices >
Background on reuse of single-use medical devices

AMDR: Authored resources >
Resources and clinical information on medical device reprocessing, including whitepapers, industry news legislation and regulatory updates

Toolkits & checklists

ASCQ: Single-use device reprocessing toolkit >
Features a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve reprocessing practices

Sterility assurance resources

Sterility assurance is an important aspect of modern healthcare, as it helps to minimize a patient’s or resident’s risk for infection of the surgical site. Sterility assurance programs and testing assist users in meeting important quality assurance and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements.

Sterility assurance resources for all care settings

The sterility assurance resources featured in this section apply to all care settings.

Educational presentations

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.

High-level disinfection, sterilization & disinfection >
This presentation covers the Spaulding classification scheme, methods for sterilization, advantages and disadvantages of disinfectants and controversies around reprocessing of endoscopes

Sterility assurance resources for specific care settings

The sterility assurance resources featured in this section apply to specific care settings.

Articles

AORN: 5 multidisciplinary team sterilization practices >
In 2021, sterilization best practices were updated in several regulatory requirements and guidelines, including AORN’s guidelines for care and cleaning surgical instruments and electrosurgical safety, and in revisions to AAMI documents for healthcare medical device processing. This article covers the five most significant sterilization changes that multidisciplinary teams need to address for safe and effective implementation

AORN: The benefits of point-of-use instrument care >
This article explores how properly caring for instruments in the OR keeps your facility running smoothly, saves money by extending the life of instrument sets and ultimately reduces risks of surgical site infections

McKesson Medical-Surgical: Surgical instrument cleaning & care >
Article on proper surgical instrument cleaning & care

Outpatient Surgery Magazine: 5 innovations in infection prevention >
This article outlines five game-changing innovations that are poised to defeat these infectious invaders on the very front lines of surgical care

Best practices & recommendations

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities: Sterilization >
A resource providing information on sterilization methods and practices

CDC: Sterilizing practices >
This resource provides an overview of sterilization practices, including sterilization cycle verification, cleaning, packaging, loading, storage and monitoring

Educational presentations

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Sterilization: Does it work? >
This presentation covers evidence-based recommendation for sterilization of endoscopes

General resources

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Toolkits & checklists

ASCQC: Sterilization & high-level disinfection toolkit >
Toolkit with a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve sterilization and high-level disinfection practices

BC: Sterilization practices & protocols for the medical office >
4-page list of best practices for sterilization with photo examples and sample autoclave log book

McKesson Medical-Surgical: Sterilization checklist >
2-page sterilization audit for ASCs

SPS: Sterilization audit checklist >
2-page checklist for sterilization audit

Articles

AORN: 5 multidisciplinary team sterilization practices >
In 2021, sterilization best practices were updated in several regulatory requirements and guidelines, including AORN’s guidelines for care and cleaning surgical instruments and electrosurgical safety, and in revisions to AAMI documents for healthcare medical device processing. This article covers the five most significant sterilization changes that multidisciplinary teams need to address for safe and effective implementation

AORN: The benefits of point-of-use instrument care >
This article explores how properly caring for instruments in the OR keeps your facility running smoothly, saves money by extending the life of instrument sets and ultimately reduces risks of surgical site infections

Outpatient Surgery Magazine: 5 innovations in infection prevention >
This article outlines five game-changing innovations that are poised to defeat these infectious invaders on the very front lines of surgical care

Best practices & recommendations

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities: Sterilization >
A resource providing information on sterilization methods and practices

CDC: Sterilizing practices >
This resource provides an overview of sterilization practices, including sterilization cycle verification, cleaning, packaging, loading, storage and monitoring

Educational presentations

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Sterilization: Does it work? >
This presentation covers evidence-based recommendation for sterilization of endoscopes

General resources

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Toolkits & checklists

ASCQC: Sterilization & high-level disinfection toolkit >
Toolkit with a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve sterilization and high-level disinfection practices

SPS: Sterilization audit checklist >
2-page checklist for sterilization audit

Articles

AORN: The benefits of point-of-use instrument care >
This article explores how properly caring for instruments in the OR keeps your facility running smoothly, saves money by extending the life of instrument sets and ultimately reduces risks of surgical site infections

McKesson Medical-Surgical: Surgical instrument cleaning & care >
Article on proper surgical instrument cleaning & care

Best practices & recommendations

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities: Sterilization >
A resource providing information on sterilization methods and practices

CDC: Sterilizing practices >
This resource provides an overview of sterilization practices, including sterilization cycle verification, cleaning, packaging, loading, storage and monitoring

Educational presentations

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Endoscope reprocessing: The need to shift from HLD to sterilization >
This presentation covers the sources of healthcare-associated pathogens related to endoscope reprocessing, evaluates the cause of endoscope-related outbreaks and discusses alternatives that might improve safety margin and prevent future outbreaks

William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.I.C.: Sterilization: Does it work? >
This presentation covers evidence-based recommendation for sterilization of endoscopes

General resources

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Toolkits & checklists

ASCQC: Sterilization & high-level disinfection toolkit >
Toolkit with a variety of resources and information that may be used to supplement your current processes to improve sterilization and high-level disinfection practices

BC: Sterilization practices & protocols for the medical office >
4-page list of best practices for sterilization with photo examples and sample autoclave log book

SPS: Sterilization audit checklist >
2-page checklist for sterilization audit

Articles

McKesson Medical-Surgical: Surgical instrument cleaning & care >
Article on proper surgical instrument cleaning & care

Best practices & recommendations

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
This guideline provides recommended use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities: Sterilization >
A resource providing information on sterilization methods and practices

General resources

CDC: Guideline for disinfection & sterilization in healthcare facilities >
A list of definitions related to sterilization, disinfection and cleaning

Infection prevention resource library

Looking for more resources? Check out our infection prevention resource library, featuring articles, webinars, product catalogs, posters and more.

Browse resources

1: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/disinfection-guidelines-H.pdf
2: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/conclusion.html

Be advised that information contained herein is intended to serve as a useful reference for informational purposes only and is not complete clinical information. This information is intended for use only by competent healthcare professionals exercising judgment in providing care. McKesson cannot be held responsible for the continued currency of or for any errors or omissions in the information.

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