Central Service - Issue 1/2010
 NEWS UPDATE
- What's New in Standardisation: Performance of the Sterilization Process
- Pros and Cons of Sterile Barrier Systems. Report on a DGSV Congress Workshop 2009 in Fulda
- A Decade of "Steri" Meetings in Halle/Saale
- New Editorial Board Members
- VAH List of Disinfectants
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
C. Desbuquois, M. Richard, N. Khammo, G. McDonnell, L. Pineau*:
Artificial Test Soils for Cleaning Efficacy Studies: An Evaluation
Abstract
Cleaning efficacy was studied with a standard test method to investigate the variability of various test soils. Seven test soils were chosen both from the technical specification EN ISO/TS 15883-5 (1) and from what has been described in the literature. Each soil was tested on exposure to three different standard solutions, such as distilled water, a detergent (SDS) solution and an alkaline (NaOH) dilution, over three exposure times. Soiling and recovery methods were validated as part of the investigation. Cleaning efficacy was evaluated by protein quantification. The test soils varied considerably in their resistance to removal ranging from complete to little or no removal. The results demonstrate the need for the development and acceptance of standardised test soils that are reproducible and allow for prediction of cleaning efficacy.
FROM THE FIELD
W. Michels*, K. Roth:
Multicentre Trial on Testing Cleaning in the Practical Situation with and without Ultrasound
Abstract
After working on the guideline for validation and routine monitoring of automatic cleaning and thermal disinfection processes, a group consisting of members of the German Society for Hospital Hygiene (DGKH), the German Society for Sterile Supply (DGSV) and the Working Group Instrument Reprocessing (AKI) has now turned its attention to manual cleaning and disinfection. In the frame of this study we conducted a multicentre trial to test and evaluate the manual cleaning quality attained by ten hospitals. Here Crile clamps soiled in a defined way, were cleaned and disinfected manually, according to the local working instructions, partially with the support of ultrasound cleaning appliances. Those participants who made use of ultrasound attained cleaning results where residual protein quantities were less than 100 µg per instrument for all clamps. Manual reprocessing without the use of ultrasound cannot lead to appropriately safe cleaning results for instruments with fissures or joints.
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