How to Clean Patient Care Equipment

Part of infection control in a medical setting is keeping patient care equipment at the appropriate level of cleanliness. While disposable equipment is used when possible, some items used in patient care must be reused. It is important to take a step-by-step approach in handling patient care items to ensure that communicable diseases are not passed from patient to patient through the medical equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Personal protection items (gloves, mask, eye protection)
• Soap or disinfectant
• Sterilizing solution
• Autoclave or dry heat sterilizing equipment

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Instructions

• 1

  Wear appropriate personal equipment. This always includes gloves, and may include masks, eye protection, and in limited cases, surgical gowns.

• 2

  Decide whether each piece of equipment is critical, semi-critical or not critical. Critical items are items that penetrate the patient's skin. Semi-critical items may have contact with bodily fluids, but do not actually penetrate the skin. Non-critical items may touch the patient's skin, but are not typically in contact with any bodily fluids.

• 3

  Clean any visible debris or bodily fluids from the equipment. Do this by wiping down with soap and water, or with a disinfectant, such as alcohol. This is sufficient cleaning for equipment that is non-critical.

• 4

  Disinfect semi-critical items after cleaning. This can be done with moist heat, or with a high-level disinfectant, such as glutaraldehyde or hydrogen peroxide. Rinse and dry the items.

• 5

  Sterilize critical equipment after cleaning. Use moist or dry heat, or an appropriate liquid sterilizing agent.