Simple cleaning methods reduce bacteria on single-use medical devices
Three simple cleaning methods reduce bacterial levels on used single-use medical devices, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg. The findings could prove useful as a last-resort measure during severe shortages of medical supplies in a crisis or war.
Three simple cleaning methods – ordinary dishwashing liquid, 70% alcohol, and peracetic acid – effectively reduced bacterial contamination on used single-use medical devices, according to research from the University of Gothenburg. The study, published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, suggests these methods could serve as a last-resort measure during severe shortages of medical supplies in crises or wars.
The researchers tested 90 used single-use medical devices, including six different types from operating rooms, and found that all three cleaning methods substantially reduced bacterial levels, with no discernible difference in effectiveness among them.
Airway devices were free of respiratory infectious agents after cleaning, although the study detected possible cross-contamination when some devices were cleaned together. The research team emphasizes that these methods do not replace sterile equipment, but they could prove useful in disaster or wartime situations where emergency stockpiles and functioning supply chains are limited.
However, the study acknowledges that further research is needed to confirm whether the devices are safe to reuse on patients after these simple cleaning methods.
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