Physiotherapy supplies need to be kept clean like any other item that a patient might come in contact with. Follow these steps to make sure that you are properly cleaning and sterilizing your physiotherapy supplies.
1. Identify What Level the Supply Is
You will first need to identify the item's level before you are able to properly sanitize it. The first level is non-critical. Non-critical items are items that either don't touch the patient ever, or only touch the parts of the patient that are clothed, or they touch the patient's skin but don't touch any open sores. If the item touches only clothes or does not touch the patient, such as a scale, then a low level of disinfection is needed. If the item touched the patient, such as a blood pressure cuff, then it will need a medium level of disinfection.
If the item touched a mucous membrane or someone's skin that was not totally intact, then it is labeled semi-critical. It will need a medium to high level of disinfection. Examples of this type of item include a reusable thermometer or reusable peak flow meters.
Finally, any item that entered the body of a person, especially the vascular system or the blood stream of a person, is labeled critical and will need to be sterilized, not disinfected.
2. Disinfect Using the Right Solutions
If you have a non-critical item, then you will need to make a solution of quaternary ammonium compounds, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and hypochiorites which are 5.25% bleach and the rest is water.
If you have a semi-critical item, then you will need to make a solution out of accelerated hydrogen peroxide, mixtures that are 60% - 90% alcohol, and hyprochiorites.
For semi-critical items that need a high level of disinfection, such as vaginal probes, then you will need to use glutareldeyhyde 2% and accelerated hydrogen peroxide that is at least 7% alcohol.
3. Sterilize Any Critical Items
Finally, you are going to need to sterilize any critical items, such as reusable needles, using steam pressure. Your physiotherapy center should have a steam pressure cleaner. If you are using an autoclave, then you will either need to put an item into 133 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes or 121 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Other steam pressure cleaners will take longer.
For more information, talk to the manufacturer of your physiotherapy supplies, such as Classic Health Medical & Homecare Supplies Ltd, for more information about how they should be properly cleaned.
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