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Products to Clean Surgical Instruments

Cleaning reusable surgical instruments is only one stage in the decontamination process, which also include disinfection and sterilization, according to the Department of Health website. Cleaning the instruments with appropriated detergents before sterilization helps reduce the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Enzymatic detergents, accelerated hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium compounds and sterile deionized water are other products used to clean surgical instruments.

  1. Enzymatic Detergents

    • An enzymatic cleaner or detergent is a solution that helps to remove material on surgical equipment with bioactive molecules. Enzymes are able to react and split the molecules of proteinaceous residues such as skin, blood and fat, commonly found in unwashed surgical instruments, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

    Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide

    • Accelerated hydrogen peroxide differs in composition from hydrogen peroxide, often being mixed with germicidal substances. The British Columbia Ministry of Health recommends accelerated hydrogen peroxide at 0.5 percent concentration to clean surgical and other hospital instruments. According to BioMed Central, accelerated hydrogen peroxide is a more effective cleaner, when compared with standard hydrogen peroxide, especially related to the destruction of Clostridium difficile, a microorganism that causes infections.

    Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

    • The British Columbia Ministry of Health recommends the use of quaternary ammonium compounds, also known as QUATs or cationic detergents, to clean surgical equipment. Benzalkonium chloride, cetrimide, cetylpyridinium chloride and cetrimonium bromide are some examples of quaternary ammonium compounds, according to the International Programme on Chemical Safety. These compounds are also used as algaecides in swimming pools, industrial water reservoirs and farm ponds, as well as in the last rinse of hospital laundry. Used in high concentrations, they can also have bactericide properties.

    Sterile Deionized Water

    • Sterile deionized water is recommended in the cleaning of surgical instruments and is often used as a last rinse, according to "Eye World," the news magazine of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Sterile deionized water, also called purified water, has been through a physical process to remove its mineral content, which can also remove other impurities such as bacteria.

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