RE: disinfecting instruments

From:Terry.Marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk

Our practice is to disinfect in a bath of phenol, a disgusting dirty, smelly evil muck which corrodes. I have my own cut up instruments and disallow this practice for them (not that they don't sometimes get immersed). I thoroughly wash my instruments at the end of cut-up. This, in a real world, should be sufficient. Quite why they should be sterile eludes me.

We are currently in the train of getting autopsy instruments sent to CSSD. This is another daft idea. I suppose it's to avoid cross-contamination of corpses!

Soaking in an enzyme detergent for a while sounds fine to me, and no less than is necessary.

Terry L Marshall B.A.(Law), M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.Path
Consultant Histopathologist
Rotherham General Hospital, Yorkshire
terry.marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: p=NHS NATIONAL INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=lamarti2(a)gundluth.org;

Sent: 05 April 2002 21:58
To: p=NHS NATIONAL
INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=histonet(a)pathology.swmed.edu;
Subject: disinfecting instruments



I have a question regarding disinfecting of instruments ( i.e., scalpel
handles, scissors, forceps etc.) after completion of an autopsy and at the
end of the day in the grossing room.

Currently we clean all instruments with an enzyme detergent ( LPHse) and
them soak for 10 min. with a disinfectant (Virex).

Our new safety officer feels we should send all instruments to CS for
sterilization.  What is your practice and what are your thoughts?

Any info is appreciated.








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