STERILE PROCESSING INSIGHTS by Stephen Kovach
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Use of alcohol in the workplace … as a disinfectant
Q A
I was told I could not have alcohol at my workstation. Is that true?
I want to expand on your question to ask it this way; “Can I use alcohol in a medical device reprocessing department?” First and foremost, it depends on the medical devices you have
in your department and what their specifi c instructions for use (IFU) states that you need to do to reprocess that device properly. Let’s fi rst start with what we know about alcohol, specifi cally
isopropyl alcohol, which is the most common type used in a medical device reprocessing department. Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60 per-
cent and 90 percent alcohol with 10 – 40 percent purifi ed water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50 percent, usefulness for disinfection drops sharply. Isopropyl alcohol is fl ammable, limiting its use as a surface disinfectant to small surface-areas and s in well-ventilated spaces only.
With prolonged and repeated use of isopropyl alcohol as a dis- infectant, it can also cause discoloration, swelling, hardening, and cracking of rubber and certain plastics. Isopropyl alcohol has protein fi xation properties that could lead to the retention of organisms within or on devices, such as an endoscope. Isopropyl alcohol and other disinfectants might affi x biofi lm to surfaces and make them diffi cult to remove. Therefore, it is essential to know how, where, and when to use isopropyl alcohol in any situation, if at all.
Let’s now look at what the standards state and then a few original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) IFU of some devices to complete the picture and answer the question. ANSI/AAMI ST79 has information concerning alcohol, which states that instruments and devices should not be treated with any additional chemical (e.g., alcohol, disinfectant wipes) unless such treatment is specifi cally recommended in the manufacturer’s written IFU.
It must be noted that there is disagreement when it comes to
the use of alcohol and fl exible endoscopes. Some OEMs IFU and certain countries still recommend its use, and others do not. In fact, the British Society of Gastroenterology states that, “Due to the fi xative properties the use of alcohol to assist in drying endo- scopes is no longer recommended.” Therefore, understanding the specifi c standards and guidelines for instrumentation is critical. In sterile processing, we are trained to follow the manufactur-
ers’ IFU, so that is why the answer to the question of using alcohol is, “it depends.” Ensuring a medical device is clean and functional per the OEM IFU is so crucial for your role in the facility. If not enough information is available in the IFU, then you should perform research to make a policy that is best for your facility. Many OEMs gives specifi c direction in using alcohol during the
inspection process. Here is how one OEM informs the technician about using alcohol in cleaning their telescope without a working channel during the inspection process. • Immerse in a cleaning solution. • Then thoroughly re-rinse with demineralized water.
Photo courtesy: Stephen Kovach
• Dry the outside with a lint-free disposable cloth. • Remove any soiling of the glass surfaces or the light entry and light exit surfaces by wiping with a cotton swab soaked with 70 percent alcohol (ethanol, isopropanol) (wooden swab carrier, not metal or plastic).
A medical device reprocessing department has hundreds if
not thousands of different types of medical devices in their department, so having alcohol available at the workstation is necessary. I also would like to see departments do an inventory of the devices they reprocess and see which ones require alcohol during the inspection (prep and packing) process stage and add that information to their count sheet. When a department develops its standard operating pro- cedures (SOP), using these questions as an example, facilities should do research and involve all parties to make a sound SOP for their department. Once that is complete, it should be com- municated to all employees. This helps to ensure a uniformed understanding of why we do what we do because, in the long run, we want to do it right every time.
My last piece of advice is to make sure you perform the fol- lowing steps if/when you do use alcohol on the clean side (or any place in the department). First, put the date and time on the opened bottle. Then, put your initials on it. Lastly, keep the cap secure when not in use and have it in a spot that will be hard for it to tip over. Most of all, use the alcohol correctly and only on the devices that require its use. HPN
References: Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation; ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017; Page 40 BSG – Guidance for Decontamination of Equipment for Gastrointestinal-Endoscopy2017; Edition 3
Reprocessing of RICHARD WOLF Heat-Stable Instruments GA-J020 / en / 2014-05 V17.0 / PDI 13-6891
Instructions for Care & Cleaning of Miltex Endoscopes and Laparoscopic Surgical Hand Instruments General Reprocessing Instructions for KARL STORZ Products (USA) - PI-000035-20.1 2-03-11
Alcohol fi xation of bacteria to surgical instruments increases cleaning diffi culty and may contrib- ute to sterilization ineffi cacy: Am J Infect Control 2017 Aug 1;45(8):e81-e86. doi: 10.1016/j. ajic.2017.04.286. Epub 2017 Jun 8
hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • April 2021 37
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