Enzymatic Expert | Peggy Spitzer

Hospitals and surgery centers have many choices both chemical and non-chemical to manage the prevention of dried soils on instrumentation after patient care is completed. Most facilities use wet towels or pretreatment detergent sprays for this important step of instrument care. Are disinfectant chemicals another good choice at point of use for holding and transport?…

A previous “Expert Series” segment addressed misinformation about the application of detergents for disinfection. Recently this issue came up in the Journal of Thoracic Disease when discussing reprocessing of bronchoscopes [1]. In a section titled “Infection control considerations for the use of bronchoscopes in suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients” it is stated “The SARS-CoV-2 virus…

Using chemicals is a constant battle between science and subjective preferences. We may enjoy billowing clouds of foam in our kitchen sink with a “feeling” that greasy pots need just one more squirt of detergent. Do subjective preferences lead to inaccurate dosing of detergents in healthcare? Without clear policy and training, technicians may dose according…

Dosing chemicals into sinks, bottles and automated cleaning equipment is a routine task with surprising complications. Why should we pay attention to accurate dosing? Many sterile processing departments use concentrated liquid chemical disinfectants. Mixing the exact amount of chemical with water is crucial for germ killing action in the stated contact or dwell time. The…

The word “germicidal” is in heavy use now in the era of Covid-19. “Cidal” means killing or inactivating. Germicidal is a generic word for products that kill germs. In healthcare, germs that cause disease are referred to as pathogens. Chemical products to inactivate (kill) pathogens are called antimicrobials or disinfectants. Germicidal detergents are also known…

Enzymes are natural organic materials acting like chemical scissors to cut up proteins, fats and starches. Each type of enzyme is specific to each type of soil similar to a lock and key. Enzymatic detergents are generally neutral pH, materially compatible and biodegradable while offering extra biochemical cleaning power. Protease enzymes work on protein soils…

How do you verify that you have the correct chemical in your soak sink, sonic or cart washer? This simple question creates challenges for many SPD departments. Many technicians rely on color of the solution to verify that the correct chemical is in use in sinks and sonic instrument cleaners. They may even rely on…

When contaminated instruments arrive in Sterile Processing, our primary goal is starting soil removal with various types of detergents. The timing and correct selection of chemicals in the “dirty” decontamination side becomes more confusing if killing germs is a consideration when items cannot go through washer thermal disinfection. Device instructions must be followed but often…

Picture brilliant red and yellow colors at Prismatic Hot Springs in Yellowstone Park in naturally heated water around 160 degrees F and beautiful green algae living in icy mountain streams. Both are produced by enzymes working with bacteria to make biochemical magic at amazing temperature extremes. How does this benefit sterile processing? With proper sourcing…

Successful instrument processing starts at point of use and continues with strategies for preventing dried soils during transport and holding. This includes instruments, devices and endoscopes. How does the lack of scrubbing and friction during transport and holding impact our choice of pretreatment and cleaning chemicals? Detergents aid cleaning by reducing surface tension, allowing water…