Cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of equipment

Decontamination is a combination of processes, in which pathogens are removed, inactivated or destroyed, to render a reusable item safe for further use. It comprises cleaning and either disinfection or sterilization as appropriate. Cleaning physically removes infectious agents and the organic matter on which they thrive, but does not necessarily destroy them. Disinfection is a process of inactivating pathogenic organisms except for bacterial spores. Sterilization is the elimination of all viable microorganisms. Single-use medical devices resolve the difficulties of reuse and decontamination procedures and should be used where appropriate. Healthcare-associated infections place a serious burden on the NHS and healthcare organizations have a legal responsibility to implement changes to reduce infections. An effective infection control system relies on the whole of an organization and not just those areas processing equipment. The MAC Manual, developed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency provides guidance on sterilization, disinfection and cleaning of medical equipment in the health service.