Sterilisation – the tricks of the trade

All of us are aware – and follow – HTM 01-05 very closely, but there are some ways we could make it easier for ourselves. Whether we are managing busy internal sterilisation units or clean our own instruments, the principle is always the same – to process instruments to the highest standard efficiently and to ensure patients receive safe treatment. After considering the challenges of our sterilisation unit, I will try to name and tackle some of them. I am the decontamination lead in a large, multidisciplinary, specialist practice. It is a challenging role and relies heavily on having clear policies, protocols and procedures, which must be embedded into practice activities. On a busy day, our technician and nurses process instruments for up to 12 clinicians, each using their own sets of instruments. This would include surgical, hygiene and restorative – in fact, every type of dental instrument commonly found in a multidisciplinary practice. To keep this large volume of instruments organised – and prevent total chaos – a system is essential.